Next, for some spring-time hints — if you like "pastel" 
combinations, try that delightful soft yellow Tulip, 3Iiss EUen 
Wilmott, beneath a Flowering Almond, For wonderful tones of 
rose against a blue spring sky use the Almond with the taller 
Flowering Crab, and the deep rose-red Magnolia — I am not 
sure of the name of this Magnolia, but it is a common one, 
easily obtainable. This is also a pleasing combination of form, 
as well as color (a point often neglected) for the soft "fluffy" 
effect of the Almond and Crab contrast well with the severe 
though graceful form of the chalice-shaped Magnolia blossoms. 
I also took great pleasure last spring, in the dainty little Tulips 
clnsiana, soft-rose and cream, among my sturdy English Prim- 
roses ; and the blue-lavender. Phlox divaricata, with lovely little 
yellow, lily-shaped Tulipa retroflexa — or, indeed, as a fore- 
ground for any creamy or pale yellow Tulip. 
I do not know whether the deep red Weigela Eva Ratlike 
usually has a second bloom or not, but a very happy chance 
combination this year proved to be a late flowering of this shrub, 
behind a mass of Lilium speciosum roseum and pink annual 
Larkspur. Here again, the soft sprays of Larkspur make a good 
form of contrast with the stiff round Lilies. 
Just now, (early October) golden Calendulae are glowing in 
front of the so-called perennial Ageratum, Eupatorium 
coelestinum — this is much taller than the annual Ageratum and 
there is a little more red in its blue, but not enough to make it 
unpleasing with the bright yellow and orange of the Calendulae. 
The annual Ageratum is as pretty in front of them as the 
Eupatorium behind them, either combination is very good. The 
good tall African Marigold, Lemon Queen, which is nearly 
sulphur color is good behind the Eupatorium. Loveliest of all 
are the blazing orange African Marigolds, among the smoky blue 
flowers and silvery leaves of the Blue Spirea, Caryopteris 
Mast acanthus. 
Now, to ramble in the realm of cut flowers — and a most 
prosaic step, this one, too. Have you ever been hard up for 
foliage? — you know how apt the Dahlia foliage is to lie down 
and "die on you" in w^ater — try Peony foliage, or, with deep 
bronze, pale yellow, or scarlet blossoms, the marvellous color 
and form of common garden Beet leaves. More than once 
have people wondered what my beautiful Beet foliage could 
be. Broom-corn tops, with their graceful golden-brown seed- 
heads, are lovely with bright Dahlias or ^Marigolds, and good 
old Carrot tops do yeoman duty — almost as well as feathery 
Asparagus. 
Then for a tree — do you know the Japanese Larch ? — botan- 
ical name disremembered. We had a gift last May of a wee 
one, less than a foot tall and by September, it was five feet 
high and still going strong! It is a most lovely color, a trifle 
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