THE WELL-CONSIDERED GARDEN 



with delicately branching flowers, the annual lark- 

 spurs — what an endless array in the matter of 

 form and habit ! The trouble with most of us is 

 that we try to get in all the flowers, and also we 

 often go so far as to insist on using all the colors 

 too — with a result usually terrific. 



On the other hand, according to a capital Eng- 

 lish writer, "the present taste is a little too timid 

 about mixtures and contrasts of color. Few of 

 those who advise upon the color arrangements of 

 flowers seem to be aware that nearly all colors go 

 well together in a garden, if only they are thor- 

 oughly mixed up. It is the half-hearted con- 

 trasts where only two or three colors are em- 

 ployed, and those the wrong ones, that are really 

 ugly. The Orientals know more about color than 

 we do, and in their coloring they imitate the au- 

 dacity and profusion of nature." 



Those who lead us in these matters will, I am 

 sure, gradually and gently conduct us to an aus- 

 terer taste, a wish for more simplicity of effect in 

 our gardens — the sure path, if the narrow one, to 

 beauty in gardening. 



The stream of my horticultural thought runs 

 here a trifle narrower, and I see the charm of 

 gardens of one color alone — these, of course, with 



12 



