120 GARDENS OF ENGLAND 



massive, and so planted that a continuance of bloom 

 could be had from spring until the middle of 

 autumn. Trees and shrubs gracefully grouped with 

 herbaceous plants on edges and aquatics in the 

 water present at once a beautiful contrast with 

 water not so decorated. I have seen many fine 

 natural effects which might well be copied — for 

 instance, a group of ilex, with cardinal flowers, and 

 white water-lilies along the Hudson ; a river with 

 overhanging trees and shrubs ; a swamp of car- 

 dinal flowers, red weed and bidens, etc. I could 

 enumerate groups without number, all beautiful 

 and offering you object-lessons so that you might 

 make hundreds of combinations, and of chiefly 

 native plants. Add to these many fine herbaceous 

 plants and aquatics that are hardy, and a water 

 garden could be made the finest feature in many 

 of our gardens and parks." 



And what is true in America is true here. Nature 

 offers us many beautiful pictures to copy — the loose- 

 strife, a sea of purple in late summer, the yellow 

 of the flag, the fragrant meadowsweet, and the 

 fleets of white water-lilies, basking in the warm 

 summer sunshine. We have an illustration of a 

 beautiful lake garden in the picture of " Spalding 

 Parish Church from the lake garden," and a more 



