The arrangement of gardens and plant material is a Pine 
Art. But great artists are not bred by schools alone. They 
may not even know that they are artists. If the gardener-artist 
keeps her eyes open, she will learn through observation all 
that the schools have to teach and more. If she seeks for 
beauty wherever she looks, she will find much. And having 
found it she will know what it is. Having observed, which 
means having studied and dissected it, she will know how to 
set about its creation. Without a word of technical jargon 
about axes, enclosures, balance, rhythm or harmony, but Vvdth 
a bit of native common sense and imagination, her plants will 
slovrly but in good time surely go where they belong. Time will 
help. Affectionate attention will perfect. Whether it be a tiny 
cottage yard or broad acres on a hill, behold ! — there is a 
garden ! 
Fletcher Steele 
Special Plant Societies 
American The Annual Exhibition of the American Peony Society was 
Peony held in Boston on June 18th and 19th, and was attended by 
Society over four thousand peony lovers. Many members of the 
Society were present and although the date selected was late 
for the season and in spite of three days unprecedented heat 
which took toll of many of the blooms, members and visitors 
were all unanimous in their decision that the most satisfactory 
way to select the best varieties was to attend the Peony Shows 
and to visit the Peony gardens during the blooming season. 
Many magnificent flowers were staged by T. C. Thurlow's 
Sons of West Newbury, Mass., and much of the credit of this 
show must go to these gentlemen, whose peonies — over seven 
thousand in number — were picked from ten days to two weeks 
before the time. These flowers were kept first in dry storage 
for a week, and then placed in cold storage. There were 
enough of this one exhibit alone completely to fill the small 
exhibition hall and also to enter into many competitions. 
The collection of Japanese Peonies, (Thurlow) was one of the 
most admired of all exhibits and included among them the 
beautiful blooms of the Dragon, White Lady, Mikado, Tokio 
and Isanigidui. Mr. H. C. Norton of Quebec displayed a 
collection which aroused tremendous interest and won him 
many well merited prizes. Mr. Norton has over four hundred 
and fifty varieties in his beautiful gardens at Ayer's Cliff and 
many of the Canadian blooms were considered distinctly 
superior to local blooms. Mr. Norton is a very active member 
of the Peony Society and was elected Vice-President for the 
ensuing year. 
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