CHAPTER XI 
HARDY CLIMBERS 
Ir would be impossible to over-estimate the value of the 
various climbing plants to the designer; without them 
our gardens would lose half their beauty and charm. 
This much we owe to them, that without their graceful 
presence many beautiful garden houses, outbuildings and 
walls, would be intolerable eyesores. But for our 
climbing roses, clematis, honeysuckle, and fragrant 
jasmine, there would be no possibility of shady pergolas, 
flower-clad archways, and welcome arbour. ‘The crudi- 
ties of the architect, his ugly terrace walls and staring 
porticos, may all be softened and veiled by a tender 
covering of flowery sprays and rich green foliage. Yet, 
in spite of this, more effective use might be made of 
plants of twining and scandent habit, not only by calling 
in the aid of several beautiful subjects which are now 
seldom seen, but by displaying those we have to further 
advantage. In the wild gardens of Nature we find that 
climbers choose for their support living trees and shrubs, 
and who will gainsay the charm of the hedgerow wreathed 
in honeysuckle, or of the beauty of the wild rose which 
has scrambled by chance amid the branches of some 
forest tree. How seldom we afford the cultivated 
climbers this form of support. On the stronger growing 
trees we may have the snowy clematis montana, flinging 
its blossom-clad trails from branch to branch; vines and 
gorgeous Virginian creeper garlanding the trunks, and 
hanging pendant from the nethermost boughs. The axe 
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