THE FLOWER GARDEN 133 



The entire garden area should be on one plane if it is possible to 

 so construct it at not too great an expense. This level should be 

 somewhat below the established grade of the house line (Fig. 113). 

 Where the slope of the ground is too steep for such treatment, two 

 or three levels may be established. A garden constructed on dif- 

 ferent levels may be made very interesting, as it affords an oppor- 

 tunity to introduce many architectural features and to vary greatly 

 the planting on the different planes. 



GARDEN BACKGROUND 



It is important to consider the garden from the picturesque point 

 of view. This will include not only the arrangement of the interior 

 beds but, quite as important, the setting of the surrounding plan- 

 tations. The background (Fig. 117) should be dense, of a varied 

 assortment of plants. Where space permits, and the height of the 

 plants will not interfere with the view, make a background of White 

 Pine, Hemlock, Birch, Beech, Maple and Ash. Such a combination 

 will give pleasing contrast at all seasons of the year, especially in 

 the Fall, when the foliage of the deciduous trees turns to brilliant 

 shades of red and yellow. On extensive grounds such a back- 

 ground planting may be placed some distance from the garden and 

 particularly so when there is a little rise in the ground beyond the 

 end of the garden. 



When the garden area extends to the party line it is necessary 

 to provide a high hedge or wall which will rise above the horizon. 

 If a wall is used it should be partly clothed with vines as green is 

 the most satisfactory garden background (Fig. 118). It is pos- 

 sible sometimes to so locate the garden that a natural background 

 on the adjoining propertj' may be taken advantage of. 



A pleasing effect may often be secured in gardens enclosed by a 

 wall, by introducing flowering trees and shrubs in the plantations 

 immediately without, so that the branches may be trained to hang 

 over the wall to meet the floral ensemble within. 



GARDEN ENCLOSURES 



The garden in the sense that it is used in these paragraphs refers 

 to a portion of the estate set aside as an enclosed feature. An en- 

 closure provides privacy and seclusion to those who would walk or 

 work among the flowers; it is a protection to the growing plants, 



