Villa Gardens 109 



rigid formality, or a barbarous mutilation of 

 one's plants. 



As I write, I look out on my small plot, and 

 see a glorious riot of plant-life, with which it 

 would be sacrilege to interfere. 



Dahlias and perennial Sunflowers top the 

 fence in company with the expiring Holly- 

 hocks. 



The Starworts are waving their feathered 

 sprays, as yet not ready for their tardy display 

 of mauve and purple. Gourds scramble from 

 post to post, their ripened orange-tinted fruits 

 conspicuously held aloft. Lilies and Gladioli 

 rub shoulders, and Stocks and Zinnias inter- 

 mingle in gay and happy companionship ; the 

 Mignonette rambles at will beneath the Rose 

 standards, and here and there a Pansy clump 

 holds its teeming blossoms out to view. 



I cannot see a square inch of soil, so well 

 have the flowers massed themselves together, 

 yet each has room enough. 



I have said nothing about the grouping of 

 plants, and it may not be out of place to offer 

 a few suggestions on that head. I refer more 



