CHAPTER X 



THE FLOWER BORDERS IN SEPTEMBER 



The main flower border shows in September much the 

 same aspect as in August. But early in the monlh the 

 middle mass of strong colouring, enhanced by Trit^nias 

 and the fuller bloom of Dahlias, is at jts brightest. 

 The bold masses of Canna foliage have also grown up 

 and show their intended effect. They form one of 

 the highest points in the border. No attempt is made 

 to keep all the back-row plants standing high ; on the 

 contrary, many that would be the tallest are pulled 

 down to do colour work of medium height. The 

 effect is much more pictorial when the plants at the 

 back rise only here and there to a height of nine or ten 

 feet ; moimting gradually and by no means at equal 

 distances, but somewhat as the forms of greater altitude 

 rise in the ridge of a moimtain range. The diagram 

 shows how it comes in the case of my own border in 

 September. {See p. 57.) 



Rather near the front, the bushy masses of Gypso- 

 phila, which a month ago were silvery grey, have now 

 turned to a brownish colour. They are partly covered 

 with trailing Nasturtiums, but the portions of brown 

 cloud that remain tone well v ith the rich reds that are 

 near them. In the back of this region dark claret and 



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