58 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS- 



February, 1910 



varieties. Nicotiana should 

 be planted indoors in flats 

 not later than February. 

 It may be safely set out in 

 the latter part of May. 

 Along the closely cropped 

 edge at the southern side 

 of the midwalk is an edg- 

 ing of single portulacca. 



No garden would be 

 complete without a liberal 

 number of asters of the dif- 

 ferent strains now to be so 

 easily had, and which have 

 been brought to such a sat- 

 isfactory state of cultiva- 

 tion. For my part, I do 

 not fancy the aster in a bed 

 by itself, because its foliage 

 is, in my judgment, not at 



Masses of canna are planted close to the stable 



feet flowers and of a Hner 

 texture. One of the strik- 

 ing features of this part of 

 the garden has been a row 

 of gladioli which is planted 

 at different times earlier in 

 the season, thus insuring a 

 long succession of the beau- 

 tiful spikes of this flower, 

 which has within the last 

 few years been so much de- 

 xeloped and taken such a 

 firm hold upon the public 

 favor. 



At the eastern end of the 

 northern half of the garden 

 is a triangular bed of 

 single, long-fringed Cali- 

 fornia petunias. My ex- 

 perience is that this is a 



all prepossessing; so I have planted asters immediately next flower which is never a failure and never disappoints. 



to the low plants along the edges of the garden walk. 



The northern boundary of the garden is a division wire 

 fence four feet in height. In planting this section of the 

 garden, the idea was to produce a sloping growth from 

 the fence to the edge of the midwalk. Immediately along 

 the fence were planted plentiful clumps of golden glow, 

 which early in the season completely hid the fence. 



Next to the golden glow come hollyhocks, larkspur, fox- 



Along the northern edge of the midwalk, for several 

 years, I have planted assorted phlox Drummondi. Some- 

 times the start of this plant is doubtful, but once under 

 way, it flourishes and gives beautiful blossoms of all colors, 

 making a fine contrast with the border of portulacca at the 

 opposite side of the walk. Along the western end of the 

 garden a number of roses are set out. 



At the eastern end of the garden, in front of the summer 



glove, hardy phlox, sweet Williams, primroses, tiger lilies house, is a bed of French marigolds, tall zinnias and castor 



and dahlias. The single hollyhock is my preference, and, 



although after a few seasons the plant needs to be replaced, 



yet I find no difficulty in having a supply of new plants at 



hand ready to take the place of the older. Hardy phlox 



gives a bountiful bloom from July to September. The 



diminutive, ever-spreading primrose illuminates the garden 



from the middle of June to the middle of July, about the are very plentiful and beautiful, and are 



time when the fox-glove, larkspur and sweet Williams are failure. 



doing their best. No garden, in my judgment, is complete A rambler along the side of the garage, and the castor 



without a liberal clump of primroses. As soon as the lark- plants along the garage and summer house, offer a fine 



spur has finished blooming, if the plant be cut down to the background for the zinnias and marigolds. Of all gera- 



earth, a new crop of flowers will be out by the end of niums, I find the S. A. Nutt the most satisfactory. This 



plants on the north side, and castor plants and caladiums 

 on the south side. From this last group extends a privet 

 hedge, along the side of which are S. A. Nutt geraniums 

 and sweet alyssum bordering the walk which approaches 

 the garden at the east from the south. While marigolds 

 and zinnias are very ordinary every-day flowers, yet they 



never a 



August or early September. This second crop, while not 

 the equal of the first, will still help to lighten up the gar- 

 den at the very time when other plants are past their prime. 

 As to dahlias, I find that it is better to plant a few good 

 tubers rather than a large, undivided clump. I have had 

 large and more perfect flowers by cutting back the plants 

 and allowing only a few sprouts to a plant. By this method 

 one will not have so many blossoms, but rather more per- 



variety may not have as large flower trusses as some others, 

 and may not be, perhaps, as brilliant; yet its richness and 

 dignity, to my mind, cannot be surpassed. 



In conclusion, I would say, that to plan and plant this 

 garden has taken a large amount of time, labor, patience 

 and perseverance, to say nothing of the money expended. 

 While we have often been disappointed, yet we have also 

 scored some successes. 



A corner of the garden showing the steps to the tea-house 



Another view of the garden walk 



