THE BEAUTY OF SIMPLE GROUPING 99 



more pleasing effect is produced in the herbaceous 

 border if a skilfully arranged colour sequence is 

 provided where tints melt suavely from bright to 

 fainter hues, than if direct contrast in colours is 

 striven for, these are often very charming in the 

 garden. There are few more beautiful sights than 

 a colony of white Japanese anemones in fiill 

 flower against a low wall covered with the foliage 

 of the Virginian creeper in the zenith of its 

 crimson loveliness. The white flowers of the 

 poet's narcissus rising out of a carpeting of blue 

 forget-me-not are a charming sight, and the 

 scarlet Gladiolus brenchleyensis, associated with 

 the tall, white spires of Galtonia candicans, form 

 an effective contrast. 



Staking is a subject of the utmost importance 

 in the herbaceous border, for the most delicate 

 colour schemes are irretrievably ruined should the 

 tall plants be bound, as they too often are, like 

 sheaves to stakes. The artistic eye revolts from 

 the picture presented by tightly-bound, towsled 

 flower-heads manacled to coarse wooden spars. 

 The proper way is to thrust some thin bamboo 

 canes, painted green to harmonise with the foliage, 

 into each clump, the outer canes inclining a little 

 from the centre, while the plant is yet making 



