INFORMAL WATER GARDENS 125 



variety of height and colour they compress, without any 

 artificial appearance, into a small area of ground. Whether 

 in the matter of building, tree-planting, or decoration, there 

 is never with them any exaggeration. All is simple and 

 natural, and each tree stands out clearly detached from 

 its fellows, so that every beauty of form and leaf is well 

 seen. We notice the simplicity of a little Japanese 

 thatched roof which projects over a well, or similar 

 objects that it would be nice to reproduce in any small 

 garden. If a willow-tree is planted near to overshadow, 

 such pictures are complete. 



Then, again, how simply they contrive a little bridge 

 across a narrow stream ! I n the water a small pile of bricks 

 is neatly built up, and upon these are placed the ends of two 

 long narrow stone slabs, which extend from bank to bank. 



But, to return to the garden of " the Floating Island," 

 let us consider how best we should plant the banks if it 

 were to be looked at from an English country house. 

 Should winter be the time when it will be most seen, 

 masses of evergreens, such as hollies, and ilexes, should 

 stand between the deciduous trees. Plant them or thin 

 them, as the CEise may be, so that groups of seven or more 

 of the same kind of tree are together. Then, to give 

 colour near the water, and to have reds and yellows 

 well reflected in it, plant all varieties of willow, the golden, 

 and still more the red kinds, and the red dogwood. All 

 these will be in bold groups, so that even in dullest winter- 

 time the effect is strong. For water-reflection in summer- 

 time, there is nothing more telling in its fresh bright 

 green leaf than an oak-tree, sparingly placed to overhang 

 the banks from amidst very dark evergreen trees. White 

 Guelder roses, too, if used singly near red foliage are 

 lovely. 



To give greater incident, clearings in the woods should 

 be made in places, and grass banks should here slope 



