FORMAL FLOWER BEDS 



41 



Fig. 3 1. 



the centre tree should be larger and more important than 

 the others, and I therefore suggest a clipped Portugal 

 laurel. The other trees could be bay-trees, or bright 

 flowering shrubs, such as lilacs or hydrangeas. 



It will be noticed that in all these parterre gardens we 

 lay stress upon height being intro- 

 duced in the shape of trees in pots 

 or tubs. If, for any reason, these 

 are not chosen, then where the 

 circles are plant tall climbing roses 

 upon tripods of wood. It is height 

 that gives buoyancy to Florentine 

 and other Italian gardens, and this 

 is what we so wish to have further 

 developed in England. 



All lovers of past history will be interested to learn 

 that there are many flower-beds in old gardens which 

 preserve the same outline as when they were designed 



many hundred years ago. 

 A very ancient moated 

 grange, which has been 

 in the possession of the 

 same family for many 

 hundred years, still shows 

 in the centre of the little 

 square court the arms of 

 the family represented in 

 flower-beds as they were 

 drawn in Charles II.'s 

 time. Probably the 

 hidden position of this house, buried as it is in a fir-wood, 

 far from any main road, saved its beautifully decorated 

 timber and plaster gables from injury. So, too, for- 

 gotten by the world, its interesting flower-beds have 

 been safely handed down to us. Round them is a 



Fig. 32. 



