The Garden Magazine, September, 1921 



19 



more harmonious with the flowers than brick. Gravel is some- 

 times extremely pleasing, but not so easy to keep clean as the 

 stone or brick. 



The width of the walks depends on their relation to the rest 

 of the design. A uniform width for all the walls is monotonous. 

 In some of the modern English gardens a pattern in the pave- 

 ment is used at the intersection of walls or about a pool, which is 

 not noticeable in the general design, but adds interest on closer 

 inspection. 



THERE is never a house too simple nor a plot too small to 

 have a well-planned garden. A garden that is not beauti- 

 ful has no reason for being. But this beauty depends on these 

 things: the plan, the choice of ornament, and the arrangement 

 of proper planting material. Some knowledge (or at least appre- 

 ciation) of architecture is necessary in adapting the plan to the 

 house and choosing the ornaments, and more than a mere 

 knowledge of horticulture is necessary in selecting the plants. 

 The planner must have a feeling for form and color and realize 

 how the composition will look five, ten, or twenty years from 

 the time that the stock is planted, particularly as to surround- 

 ing trees and shrubs — the herbaceous plants are less enduring 

 and constantly changing. It is a much more difficult problem to 

 select suitable trees and shrubs for a small place than for larger 

 grounds. The greatest danger lies in using small or rather 

 young trees in place of shrubs to obtain the so-called "immedi- 

 ate effect" and small (i.e. young) evergreen trees for foundation 

 planting to satisfy the desire for color in winter. 



In planning the boundaries it is well to divide the trees and 

 shrubs into major and minor groups. In the former belong 

 such trees as the Maple, Elm, and Pine which should be given 

 at least forty feet space for their best development; between 

 these can be spaced those of the second group including flowering 

 Dogwood, Thorn, Red-bud and the like. Interspersed with 



these can be grouped the larger shrubs like Lilac, Mock Orange, 

 and Forsythia. To bring this group down to the ground, the 

 shrubs of the second class, including Snowberry, Dwarf Deutzia, 

 and Japanese Barberry can be used. 



Planting for Continuous Bloom 



FOR continuous bloom in the beds, the foundation of the 

 planting is of hardy perennials supplemented by bulbs 

 and annuals. For May and early June the late flowering Tulips, 

 Peonies, German Iris are to be relied upon; the effect is most 

 charming with the tender green of the plants that bloom in 

 midsummer. For late summer flower Gladiolus, etc., may be 

 introduced in due season. {See illustration below.) - i»c 



If the walks are other than grass, low growing plants, such as 

 Moss-pink (Phlox subulata) can be planted in the foreground. 

 The varieties lilacina and alba are much better than the old 

 fashioned rose-pink of the type. Phlox divaricata in front of 

 Hardy Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is a pleasing combina- 

 tion for spring bloom. For a low creeping plant where blue is 

 desired Veronica repens is especially fine, and the foliage is also 

 good throughout the season. Ajuga reptans is suitable for 

 positions near the walks; its blue flowers are attractive in spring 

 and the foliage takes on beautiful shades of bronze-red in the 

 autumn. Nepeta Mussini with its soft sage green foliage and 

 spikes of lavender flowers is another one of my favorites for this 

 purpose. Near it I like to set Coral-bells (Heuchera sanguinea) 

 their flowers last well into the summer and the low growing 

 foliage is quite attractive at all seasons. Heading the list for 

 bold foliage effects in the foreground is Saxifraga cordifolia, 

 with deep green leaves and spikes of rosy lilac blossoms in May. 

 For bold blue-green or glaucous foliage 1 like to use the old Day- 

 lily (Funkia, or according to modern nomenclature Hosta Sie- 

 boldiana). 



Plants with gray or blue-green foliage help to soften any vio- 



SUMMER GARDEN OF MR. SAMUEL HEILNER AT SPRING LAKE, N. J. 



Here greensward and background feature importantly; the turf flows among the flowers like a stream broken 

 by brilliant little islands; trees and high enclosing hedge lend shelter and an enchanting hint of mystery 



E. L. Mix, Photo. 



