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sweep of sward; trees singly and in groups; clumps of ever- 
green or other plants abloom in various seasons; two great 
chestnut trees in full flower; no apparent art, and yet art of 
a very fine order, because the whole is so beautiful and fine, 
so restful, so full of peace. The ground dips so rapidly that 
not all of this is visible from the terrace porch, but the tree 
tops can be seen and one has but to advance a little to see 
and to realize all this lovely charm. 
The scene is, in fact, quite extensive. To the left, as one 
looks out, is the stable hidden by trees and clumps of foliage. 
Beyond is the distant country, with the towers of Bryn 
Mawr College in the far distance. To the right one has 
glimpses of the path to the flower garden, with altheas, red 
and white; beyond are clumps of evergreens hugging the 
base of trees: a great bed of pink nico- 
tiana being the chief color note, while 
a vast bed of white hydrangeas 
relieves the trees around the 
stable. Still further off 
to the right are the 
conservatories, 
which are 
com- 
pletely hidden 
frowns. the 
house. ‘The 
trees in the 
far distance 
are so close 
and large that 
they may well 
be the advance 
guard of a deep 
forest: as a matter of 
fact, the roadway runs 
below them not far from 
the end of the lawn. Interest- 
ing as Mrs. Wheeler’s house is, in it- 
self and in its surroundings, the most 
striking feature is its flower garden. 
This has several 
well marked divisions, most of which are isolated from 
each other and from the house. They form, however, 
the most beautiful part of the estate, constituting the por- 
tion which has been brought to the highest degree of de- 
velopment. ‘The introduction to the flower garden from 
the house is effected by a great flower-bordered path. The 
path itself is straight, but the beds towards the lawn on 
both sides are arranged in graceful curves. The immediate 
impression given by these borders is that here every sort of 
flower that blooms is placed within them, so splendid is the 
color, so rich the growth, so varied the plants. Irises 
and peonies constitute the larger plants, and around them a 
veritable riot of color has been produced by zinnias of ut- 
AMERICAN HOMES AND 9GARDEWS 
June, 1906 
terly wonderful size, by hardy phlox and other richly bloom- 
ing plants, many simple enough in themselves, but here com- 
bined with so much skill as to produce a thoroughly brilliant 
effect. A joyous walk is this bordered path, and infinite the 
variety of wonderful colors. 
The conservatories, which form the center of the horti- 
cultural activities of the estate, are located in a somewhat re- 
mote corner where they are quite far removed from the 
house. Moving up from them toward the house 
one passes through a succession of gardens, each having 
a separate character of its own, and each quite distinctive 
in itself, although sufficiently related to each other. ‘The 
first is a garden of hardy and annual flowers surrounded with 
a rich hemlock hedge, the openings covered with arches of 
the same fine tree. The flowers here are 
arranged in a somewhat formal fash- 
ion, the beds being given a rect- 
angular form in the center 
planted with vines and 
annual phlox, while in 
the middle is a cen- 
tral bed of Japa- 
nese iris and 
nasturtiums. 
Long _ rect- 
angular beds 
filled chiefly 
with annuals 
occupy the 
rest of the space. 
Phlox, — zinnias, 
alyssum, balsams, 
roses, irises, fox= 
gloves, lilies, petunias, 
nicotiana—the list is not 
complete, but the catalogue is 
sufficient to indicate the great variety. 
On one side is a grape-vine hedge, beyond 
which is a small vegetable garden. Further on towards the 
louse, on a somewhat higher level, is the rose garden. 
On the front is a low privet hedge; in the center is a sun 
dial; and the bed which encircles it has four arches of 
crimson and white ramblers. There are many beds of 
roses here, and the garden in its season is a_ splendid 
sight with its many colored blooms. Opposite it, on the 
other side of the path, is a lily pond, with lilies white, blue, 
pink and red growing luxuriantly within it. Some large 
Japanese hydrangeas overhang the pond and some cedars 
grow in the surrounding grass. ‘The grouping of the shrubs 
here is very fine and forms an appropriate introduction of a 
pergola covered with trumpet vines through which the large 
vegetable garden on the further boundary of the estate may 
