654 



A GOLDEN SHUBBERY. 



and west is covered with Virginia creeper and the yellow 

 Austrian Brier rose. On the east it is bounded by a 

 large bitter-nut hickory, whose foliage turns a lively yel- 

 low, and is retained until late in the fall. Around this 

 tree we have a circular rustic seat, where one may rest 

 and enjoy the charming view. 



Next to the hickory, and doing well in the partial 

 shade, is a group of five golden-leaved spiraeas. They 

 grow rapidly, rewarding us richly for the small share of 

 attention they receive, which consists in mowing the 

 luxuriant blue-grass around them occasionally, and 

 mulching their roots with it in dry weather, working 

 the ground around them twice in a season, and giving 

 them an annual top-dressing of manure. We ha\'e 

 never watered them, even in drought, as we are 

 our own gardeners, and have very little time to be- 

 stow upon our numerous shrubby pets. Beyond 

 the spiraeas, and backed by the gray of the stone 

 wall, is a group of half a dozen golden syringas 

 and some purple-leaved hazels. These syringas 

 do not grow so rapidly as the spiraeas, and will not 

 attain a very large size. The 

 chief charm of the golden spi- 

 raeas is the coloring of the foliage, 

 especially when the tiny leaflets 

 unfurl in early spring. They are 

 then a most exquisite shade of or- 

 ange, and on a clear day have a 

 translucent, sunny expression that 

 makes them remarkably beauti- 

 ful. In September they gradu- 

 ually lose their yellow tints, and 

 become green at the time when 

 green leaves usually turn golden. 

 Many spiraeas do best in partial 

 shade, and are useful for planting 

 in the neighborhood of trees. 



A Japan corchorus with dou- 

 ble flowers looking at a distance 

 like tiny oranges, is the next shrub in our collection. 

 It is very satisfactory at all seasons of the year. The 

 bright, green stems are showy in winter, the leaves are 

 sent out early in spring, the plant grows rapidly and 

 gracefully, with half-weeping habit, and is always in 

 bloom from April to the middle of November. I know 

 few shrubs that rival it for staying qualities. Its near 

 neighbor is the little variegated corchorus, with white 

 leaf-margin, of much more delicate growth, and single 

 blooms more sparsely produced than those of its rela- 

 tive. I am not fond of many variegated shrubs, but 

 this graceful little plant has quite won my heart. 



We have now reached the southwestern corner of the 

 shrubbery, and here we come upon a large group of 

 golden-leaved elders, which are now six feet in height. I 

 know no shrub which can outstrip an elder when it takes 

 a start in a skyward direction. 



For the sake of contrast, we have planted a few pur- 

 ple-leaved shrubs in this enclosure, and, for its rich 

 green, a large group of Bet-bcris Thunberirii . Five 



of these charming shrubs surround a thriving koelreu, 

 teria — one of the choicest of small trees. Though but 

 six feet in height, this one bloomed in July, and is es- 

 pecially valued because its golden blossoms are displayed 

 in that few-flowered and sultry month. The foliage is a 

 sunny, light green, and very appropriate for our golden 

 shrubbery. Late in the fall pretty seed-pods cling to 

 the branches, and the fall coloring of the tree is rich 

 and effective. The kcelreuteria seems of such easy 

 culture, and in every way so desirable, that I am much 

 surprised at its rarity. 



The drive-way bounds the shrubbery on the north, and 

 here we have a Forsythia viridissima, two or three dog. 



woods, a witch-hazel, a 

 Prunns Pissardii, a 

 tree -lilac, a mahonia 

 some andromedas, and 

 several other choice 

 plants. These are not 

 all yellow-flowered, but 

 are introduced for the 

 sake of toning down 

 more pronounced col- 

 oring, and for contrast. 

 I would not advise the 

 u s e of many golden- 

 leaved or variegated 

 plants, nor would I 

 have made such a col- 

 lection as ours of my 

 own free will. But 

 when these shrubs were 

 sent they seemed too 

 fine to throw away, and 

 I cannot deny that their 

 effect is good, grouped 

 as they are with so 

 many green -leaved 

 shrubs, and set in sucj, 

 rich turf as only the blue-grass, that richest and most 

 velvety of all grasses, can afford. 



Hypericum aurcum was one of the prettiest plants 

 that bloomed for us last season. This cheerful and 

 charming plant was covered in August with rich yellow 

 flowers that lasted a long while, and were well displayed 

 against the dark leaves of a fine Bcrheris Thimbergii. 

 The common name of all the hypericums is St. John's- 

 wort. //. aurcum grows wild in a number of southern 

 states, its golden blossoms brightening many dreary, 

 waste places. 



These are the principal features of our golden shrub- 

 bery. It is in a conspicuous position, just at the en. 

 trance to the grove, and becomes more interesting every 

 season. Other shrubberies scattered about, and giving 

 character to our pleasure-grounds, are called the "white 

 garden,' the "thorn group," the " ladies' walk," and 

 the " rose garden "; the latter surrounds the house. Of 

 these I should be glad to speak another time. 



West Mrginia. Danske Dandridge. 



page 653 ) 



