BAGSHOT PARK 37 



already mentioned. The Lily Garden is described in Notes 

 on Garden Design (see Chapter XII.). The third path out 

 of this delightful little retreat leads by tortuous windings past 

 a small but charming rock garden to the fourth of the series — 

 an ' American,' or flowering shrub, garden. Here again is 

 a turfed glade shut in by banks of rhododendrons. It is 

 planted with a most superb collection of shrubs, has a re- 

 markably fine magnolia in its centre, and is in every way one 

 of the most striking and beautiful features in the whole 

 garden. The gorgeous colour here in early June is almost 

 incredibly brilliant. 



Returning to the gateway at the end of the long pergola. 

 Of two diverging paths, that to the left winds beneath 

 several splendid beeches and enters the Blue Garden, which 

 is made in an open place in a large lawn. A big circular bed 

 is planted with none but blue flowers of varying shades. It 

 has a narrow edging of turf. Next comes a path in annular 

 form, and outside this again are segmental borders also adorned 

 with blue flowers. The outmost ring of all is a very narrow 

 bed planted with old-fashioned ' cat-mint,' and rising from 

 the midst of this mist of cloudy blue, are iron pillars about 

 four feet high whose tops are connected by hanging chains. 

 On the posts and chains are blue and white climbing plants. 

 The garden is entered by three paths, each of which passes 

 under a rose arch in line with the pillars and chains. A 

 fourth arch is directly in front of a very picturesque old 

 thatched arbour. The effect of the filmy cloud of blue 

 seen through these rose arches is most fascinating, and the 

 whole idea and design of the garden is extraordinarily well 

 thought out. 



As said before, one of the paths out of the Blue Garden, 

 soon after leaving it, crosses the main drive to the mansion. 

 On the far side of the drive, it passes two or three big groups 

 of fine shrubs and trees, and enters the largest expanse of lawn 

 in the grounds. Here there is a ' spiral ' garden. Sunk 

 below the level of lawn, it has for centre an exceptionally 

 interesting and uncommon sundial. A path winds down to 



