January, 1917 
THE GARDEN MAG A Z I N E 
^205 
from early spring until frost, and varied and 
vain were my attempts in the days of my 
novitiate to accomplish this feat that I now 
feel would be of doubtful desirability e\xn were 
it possible. In our climate where the im- 
portunities of the sun rushes our plants from 
vouth to a precocious maturity and on to early 
oblivion, the blossoming period of the individ- 
ual plants is so much shorter than in climates 
of moister atmosphere and less torrid summers 
that to keep all parts of the garden in bloom at 
all seasons would require so immense a variety 
of plants that a most spotty and restless effect 
would be the result, and such exact knowledge 
of the plants would be necessary that few 
amateurs could hope to acquire it. A few 
lovely pictures for each season is about all we 
can hope to accomplish successfully in the gar- 
den devoted to herbaceous perennials and de- 
signed to be beautiful for six months of the 
year. 
Garden color scheming has become some- 
thing like a craze — we talk color schemes, write 
color schemes, read them, and try to create 
them. Like all obsessions, this charming pas- 
time is in grave danger of being done to death, 
of degenerating by means of extreme pre- 
ciseness of finish into something not so far 
from the carpet bedding, which we, in our 
boasted enlightenment, profess to despise. A 
mosaic or tapestry-like effect does not seem to 
me what we want in our home gardens, but a 
gracious blending and contrasting of lovely 
elements — sweeps and patches and trails and 
spires of delightful color in happy agreement — 
and certainly there is no more enthralling pur- 
suit than the handling of these floral pigments. 
It is not nearly so difficult as it sounds, for few 
flower colors are really fiercely opposed to one 
another, and none are bad if given the com- 
Walks edged with stones around and over which low trailing 
plants ramble to give an easy line 
panion necessary to bring out their best 
qualities. 
, THE individual’s EYES 
1 he color sense must ever be individual and 
one’s expression of it original and personal, but 
there are a few simple laws which have helped 
me greatly in the harmonious disposition of my 
flowers. Contrast between the primary col- 
ors, red, blue, and yellow, is too harsh and sud- 
den; contrast between the secondary colors, 
green, violet, and orange, while striking, is not 
crude or raw. White is constantly spoken of 
as a peacemaker and much used in gardens to 
separate discordant colors, but, while it sep- 
arates them, it so heightens the tone of each 
that, instead of drawing them into agreement, 
it further opposes them to each other, and in- 
stead of a charming whole, we see three sharply 
contrasting units. 
The too free use of white in the garden, 
especially the hard white worn by Moonpenny 
Daisies, Iberis, and Canterbury Bells, will ever 
result in spottiness and unrest. I feel that the 
gardener should get his effects by gentle 
measures; his groups may, if desired, be strong 
in color, but at the same time, deep and rich, 
not high and sharp. And this result can be 
obtained only by the use of strong colors 
closely related to one another. 
I should like in some way to make others 
feel the joy of doing at least a part of the 
garden work one’s self; do not turn all this 
possible pleasure over to some one else. Many 
women will contend that they are not strong 
enough and, of course, very sadly, some are 
not; but the rest will, I feel sure, if they 
make an attempt, be greatly astonished at 
their power which will increase tenfold as 
the magic of the fresh air and sunshine gets 
in its rejuvenating work, and those same 
timid ones will be astonished at, and I hope 
thankful for, the sound sleep, the quiet mind, 
and the absorbing interest which will be theirs. 
It is of those few pleasures which “age can- 
not wither.’’ 
A charming feature 
is the apparent wildness 
of many of the plants 
which nestle on the 
steps and in odd cor- 
ners of this delightful, 
easy garden 
