CHAPTER V 
COLOUR SCHEMES WITH ANNUALS 
What is meant by colour schemes is not merely 
the putting together of flowers that look well 
side by side, but the disposition of the plants in 
complete borders in such a manner that the 
whole effect together is pictorial. It is done 
by means of progressive harmonies — harmonies 
throughout being the guiding principle, con- 
trasts the occasional exception. In the days of 
less enlightened gardening, about the middle of 
the last century, anything that was aimed at in 
the way of colouring was nearly always some 
violent contrast, or the putting together of 
crudely coloured flowers ; a pleasant harmony 
was scarcely thought of. Such a combination 
as scarlet Geranium and blue Lobelia was then 
admired, and so on with all the plants, excellent 
in themselves for better use, that were then 
available — for garish effects were then deliber- 
ately aimed at ; now that more thoughtful 
ways prevail we try for something better than 
garishness — we try for the nobler colour-quality 
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