324 



THE GARDENS OF NEWPORT. 



have been distributed, and are cultivated to some 

 extent, but are not yet widely known and fully ap- 

 preciated. In Mr. Rogers' pond are to be seen also 



A Garden Gate. 



though somewhat sparingly, the blue pond lily, N. 

 ccerulea, the large pond lily, A^. dentata, whose flow- 

 ers are sometimes nearly a foot across, and which 

 is really a variety of the lotus ; the yellow species, 

 N. hitea, and the N. Zanaibare?isis, a native of Zan- 

 zibar, with deep blue petals and violet anthers, and 

 very striking in its appearance. This is not quite 

 as hardy as the others, and should have winter pro- 

 tection for the best results. In all cases the roots 

 should be deep enough in water to prevent freezing, 

 or be otherwise sufficiently covered to afford pro- 

 tection against the action of frost. Such a pond as 

 this is a thing of beauty, and can never fail to be an 

 object of admiration. And in this case the interest 

 is greatly increased by the immediate surroundings. 

 I have already spoken of the wall of flowers on 

 every side, which is an essential feature in the com- 

 pleteness of the picture. The lily pond is as a rare 

 gem set in a border, studded with diamonds and 

 pearls. In the cultivated strip mentioned are found 

 attractions that fairly equal those of the water 

 plants. A description covering the several species 

 and at the same time indicating the order of ar- 

 rangement and combination would fill a moderate 

 sized volume. In this floral band were found, last 

 season when these notes were taken, more than 

 2,000 plants, and it may be suggested that without 

 the most skilful and artistic handling, such a collec- 

 tion might be a mass of incongruities. But in this 

 case nothing of the kind appears. The arrange- 

 ment is made with reference to color of foliage, time 

 of blossoming and habits of growth ; and it is true 

 that only a master of[jfloral art could meet the re- 

 quirements of the situation. Many of the speci- 



mens are of our most common native or best known 

 imported sorts ; others are recent and rare intro- 

 ductions. For instance, here are, all in variety, 

 200 asters, 50 carnations, 100 dahlias, 200 phloxes, 

 100 zinnias, 200 marigolds, 25 roses, 50 pansies, 50 

 lilies, 50 verbenas and many others of the common 

 garden species. There is also a free distribution 

 of cannas, irises, spireas, retinosporas, tritonias, 

 veronicas, hollyhocks, delphiniums, helianthuses, 

 campanulas, columbines, salvias, chrysanthemums, 

 etc. The foliage plants occupy an important place 

 in the combination, as they must do everywhere on 

 correct principles of landscape gardening. 



Near by is a small, but not less interesting artificial 

 pond devoted to the culture of the Egyptian lotus, 

 Nelumbiu7ii speciosiiiii, than which few plants in cul- 

 tivation can be mure interesting. When standing 

 in its presence one is all the more impressed in re- 

 calling the fact that this is the old " rose of Egypt," 

 and the famous growth of the Nile regions which, 

 from earliest antiquity, has made its impress on the 

 world's literature, religion and art. Among the 

 Egyptians, as fax back as the time of the Pharaohs, 

 it is known to have been worked into garlands and 

 wreaths which were symbolically placed on the 

 brows of beautiful women, or held in their hands 

 and pressed for its fragrance. In architecture it 

 adorned the capitals of columns and the prows of 

 boats, while in hieroglyphics it was everywhere the 

 emblem of beauty and the symbol of purity. The 

 Egyptians held it to be sacred to Isis, and gave it a 

 prominent place in the worship of that deity. The 

 Hindoos regarded it with equal reverence, and 

 many of the thrones of their gods were modeled 

 after its form, either as a full grown plant, or as an 

 expanded flower. So, also, has it long been one of 

 the sacred plants of China and Japan. In those 

 eastern countries the lotus appears with some vari- 

 ations as to form and color, but not more than 

 would naturally be expected in such diverse loca- 

 tions and through so many ages. In Egypt, the 

 flower is usually spoken of as pure white, while 

 in India it is known to have been sometimes white 

 and sometimes red ; a legend explaining that the 

 latter color came from the blood of Siva when 

 Cupid wounded him with his arrow. But irrespec- 

 tive of these traditions, the lotus is the most attrac- 

 tive aquatic plant in cultivation. It is quite hardy, 

 and will often blossom the first season after plant- 

 ing, remaining in constant flower most of the sum- 

 mer. As cultivated here, it grows best in shallow 

 water, when its stalks extend from four to six feet 

 above the surface. The great round leaves are 

 sometimes from twenty to thirty inches across^ 



