OUR SPRING GARDENS, AND HOW TO HAVE THEM ATTRACTIVE 
FROM JANUARY TO JUNE. 
When Winter first yields to the advances of gentle Spring, irresistible in her grace and loveliness, 
how eagerly do we look for the first signs of returning life and beauty in the wee timid flower that 
seems born of the snow; in the pale Primrose, emerging in the copse from the leaves which Autumn 
and Winter had strewn as trophies of decay ; in the Cowslip, sweetening the meads, and the Blue 
Bells, decking the wayside banks with grace. These have a charm all their own, by reason both of 
tlieir native delicacy and of the season at which they disclose their beauties to our gaze. But why 
should we not have the same delight in our own gardens, or suffer the desolation of Winter to linger 
there, when nature has cast it away and has already put on her vesture of delight ? Give, if yon 
will, the place of honour to the rich masses of colour and gorgeous display of full-bloomed beauty, 
in which the Summer garden proudly vaunts itself — the glow of the Rose — the brilliant scarlets of 
the Geranium, set oft' by its abundant leafage — the dazzling tint of the Verbenas — the many- 
coloured spikes of the Gladioli — the stately growth of the Hollyhocks, and the thousand other flowers 
that offer themselves in aid of our desire to make our parterres gay and attractive amidst the glories 
of Summer. But there is not the least reason why the earlier months of the year should not see the 
garden rejoicing in beauties quite as charming; some delightful in their modest delicacy — some 
striking in their brilliance — not yielding one whit to their more gaudy successors in their power to 
please. What can be more charming than the Snowdrop, set off by the Golden Aconite ; or more 
effective than the many-coloured Crocus, in the endless groups and patterns which taste and fancy 
may devise. Even the humble Daisy may most effectively serve to make the borders gay, . wdnlcfjie 
Pansy adds its rich profusion to the scene, to say nothing of the pretty Scilla Sibcrica, thGiWjpaJajj^* 
the exquisite Forget-me-not, which now plays so prominent a part in Spring gardening, the-AiyJo^|r 
Polyanthus, and Ranunculus. Where, in the whole range of Flora’s gifts, will be found anything 
more delicious than the Hyacinth, more striking than the Narcissus, more rich and stately than the 
Iris, more superb than the Tulip. It is astonishing that any one who enjoys the pleasures of a garden 
at all should omit to avail himself of the facilities offered for floral decoration during the early Spring 
months ; and, indeed, it can only be accounted for by supposing that fortune has not given him the 
opportunity of seeing what marvellous effects may be produced in a Spring Flower Garden. The 
most successful illustration of Spring gardening that has come under our notice, is at Cliveden, the 
seat of the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland. The Flower Gardens there, although of large extent, 
are as full of bloom during the Spring months as during the Summer and Autumn ; so that any one 
seeing them in their Spring beauty would hardly be contented to have his garden bare and desolate 
during six months of the year, as is too frequently the case at present. Mr. Fleming, the skilful and 
indefatigable superintendent of the gardens at Cliveden, has published a small volume, entitled, 
“ Spring Gardening, by J. Fleming,” price 2s. 6 d. This gives lists of the plants used at Cliveden, 
the time at which they bloom, their culture and propagation, and a detailed account of how the beds 
at Cliveden were filled for two years. 
As many of our customers may not have Mr. Fleming’s book to refer to, we offer to such a few 
suggestions as to the most effective arrangements for beds and borders, whether on a large or small 
scale, with plants and bulbs best calculated to maintain a continuous succession from the first appear- 
ance of Spring till June. 
HYACINTH BEDS. 
No. 1 Bed. — Plant with Hyacinths, cither mixed (Nos. 99 to 104) or in circles, lines or masses, in 
distinct colours (Nos. 67 to 98), edge with a line of Dog-tooth Violets, and then a line of Yellow 
Pansy. The Hyacinths may be intersected with groups of Crocus or Snowdrops. 
No. 2 Bed. — Plant with Red Hyacinths, intersect these with Blue Forget-me-not, and edge the bed 
with Single Red Hcpntica, or Red Daisy. 
No. 3 Bed. — Plant with Blue Hyacinths, intersect these with White Forgct-mc-not, and edge the bed 
with variegated Arabis mollis. 
No, 4 Bed. — Plant with White Hyacinths, intersect these with Pink Silenc, and edge with Single 
Blue Hepatica, or Blue or Purple Pansy. 
No. 5 Bed (Square). — Formed into diamonds with Arabis variegata, the diamonds filled in with 
Hyacinths. 
TULIP BEDS. 
No. 6 Bed. — Plant with Early Single Tulips, either mixed or in circles, lines, or masses of distinct 
colonrs, intersect the bulbs with Myosotis, Silene, or Crocus, and edge with the lovely Seilla 
Siberiea, or a good self-coloured Crocus. 
No. 7 Bed.— Plant with a good Scarlet Early Single Tulip, as Scarlet Due Van Tliol or Vermilion 
Brilliant, intersect the bulbs with Yellow Pansy or Yellow Crocus, and edge with Snowdrops. 
No. 8 Bed. — Plant with Golden Prince Early Single Tulip, intersect these with White Forget-me-not 
or Scilla Siberiea, and edge with Purple Pansy. 
No. 9 Bed.— Plant with White Pottebakker Early Single Tulip, intersect with Blue Forgct-mc-not, 
and edge with Yellow' Pansy', surrounded with a line of Red Daisy. 
No. 10 Bed (Oblong).— Plant Early Single Tulips in geometrical figures, the lines planted with 
Touruesol Double Tulip (No. 559) and the figures filled in with distinct coloured Early Single 
Tulips, these intersected, so as to cover the ground, with Blue Forget-me-not, and edged with 
Yellow Pansy. 
No. 11 Bed— Plant with Standard of Perfection Early Single Tulip, a beautiful variegated variety, 
intersect it with Blue Pansy, and edge with Red Daisy, or intersect with Blue Forget-me-not, 
and edge with Red Daisy. 
