124 INTERNATIONAL GARDEN CLUB 



living collection of the American Fern Society, and the Fern 

 Garden was started in the fall of 1916, at the northern end of 

 the wild flower garden. 



The violets are planted on a grassy slope with space between 

 each species, so as to decrease the liability of mixing the spe- 

 cies by the forcible scattering of seeds, which is characteristic 

 of the violets. 



The Ecological Section has the brook and swamp on its east 

 side and the rock garden on the west. It is the aim of this sec- 

 tion to illustrate the "home life" of plants, and their adjust- 

 ment to various factors of environment, such as water, light, 

 gravity, soil, insects, and other plants. 



There is not space here to speak in detail of all the sections, 

 but special mention should be made of the Japanese garden, for 

 competent critics, both American and Japanese, have assured 

 us that this is the most perfect example of a Japanese garden in 

 any public park in the United States, and probably not sur- 

 passed by any in either public or private grounds in its faithful 

 adherence to the principles of Japanese landscape gardening, 

 and in its intrinsic beauty. The large torii like the famous one 

 at Miyajima, Japan, stands in water, and beyond, on the slope 

 of the hill, "heaven," is the Inari shrine. A torii always indi- 

 cates an approach to a temple or shrine. The shrine is made 

 of California redwood, and is put together entirely without nails, 

 except for the shingles on the roof. 



The garden, with its waterfalls, stone lanterns, drum bridge, 

 formed trees, moon-view house, and other characteristic features 

 may best be viewed from the tea house and wistaria arbor 

 across the lake. An annual Japanese tea party, with cherry 

 trees and azaleas in bloom, is enjoyed by the members of the 

 Botanic Garden and their friends. The Japanese garden was a 

 gift to the Botanic Garden, and was not only constructed but 

 has also been partly maintained without expense to the city. 



Among several special collections that are planned, only the 

 lilac collection has been started. There are at present over 130 

 varieties. All plants for the Botanic Garden, not received by 

 exchange or gift, must be purchased by private funds, and op- 



