THE ORCHARD GARDEN 89 



and well-being of the fruit trees themselves must never be 

 lost sight of ; for the rest we may plant colonies of any- 

 bulbous or herbaceous flowers that are likely to thrive, 

 and return a measure of interest and beauty. Where 

 the orchard is large and old-established, endless op- 

 portunities occur for free and natural schemes of 

 planting, but the fact that possession is limited to the 

 smallest fruit ground, a dozen or two of trees perhaps, 

 need not deter us from making it into an orchard garden. 

 The woods and fields are overflowing with beautiful 

 wild plants which might be transplanted and re- 

 established, so that we could enjoy their freshness close 

 at hand. Without incurring the smallest expense, our 

 semi-wild garden might overflow with good things — 

 spreading clumps of Primroses, freely obtained from 

 any country hedgerow; Violets, Anemones, Bluebells 

 and other woodland carpeting plants ; Dog Roses, 

 Clematis and Honeysuckle; Foxgloves, Meadowsweet, 

 with handsome foliage plants like the Giant Fennels and 

 native Ferns ; Loosestrife, Ox-eye Daisies, Bindweed 

 and Forget-me-Not — all native plants, to be had for the 

 asking. The return in the way of interest and beauty 

 is so great, the attention demanded so small, that the 

 orchard garden should commend itself to every lover of 

 hardy flowers grown in simple and natural ways. 



A List of Plants suitable for the Orchard 



Garden 



Bulbous and tuberous flowers for naturalising in grass. 



Narcissi. Cyclamen. 

 Snowdrops. Grape Hyacinths. 



Scilla. Fritillaries. 

 Winter Aconites. Autumn Crocuses. 

 Star of Bethlehem, 



