THE GENERAL PLAN OR THEORY OF THE PLACE 35 



man}^ of the native herbs of woods and glades are more attract- 

 ive than some of the most prized garden flowers. The greater 

 part of these native flowers grow readily in cultivation, some- 

 times even in places which, in soil and exposure, are much un- 

 like their native haunts. Many of them make thickened roots, 

 and they may be safely transplanted at any time after the 

 flowers have passed. To most persons the wild flowers are 

 less known than many exotics that have smaller merit, and 

 the extension of cultivation is constantly tending to annihilate 

 them. Here, then, in the informal flower-border, is an oppor- 

 tunity to rescue them. Then one may sow^ in freely of easy- 

 growing annuals, as marigolds, China asters, petunias and 

 phloxes, and sweet peas. 



One of the advantages of these borders lying at the boundary 

 is that they are always ready to receive more plants, unless 

 they are full. That is, their symmetry is not marred if some 

 plants are pulled out and others are put in. And if the weeds 

 now and then get a start, very little harm is done. Such a 

 border half full of weeds is handsomer than the average hole-in- 

 the-lawn geranium bed. An ample border may receive wild 

 plants every month in the year when the frost is out of the 

 ground. Plants are dug in the woods or fields, whenever one 

 is on an excursion, even if in July. The tops are cut off, the 

 roots kept moist until they are placed in the border; most of 

 these much-abused plants will grow. To be sure, one will secure 

 some weeds; but then, the weeds are a part of the collection! Of 

 course, some plants will resent this treatment, but the border 

 may be a happy family, and be all the better and more personal 

 because it is the result of moments of relaxation. Such a border 

 has something new and interesting every month of the growing 

 season; and 'even in the winter the tall clumps of grasses and 

 aster-stems hold their banners above the snow and are a source 

 of dehght to every frolicsome bevy of snowbirds. 



I have spoken of a weedland to suggest how simple and easy 



