6 2 
Old Time Gardens 
“We have a bright little garden, down on a sunny slope. 
Bordered with sea-pinks and sweet with the songs and blossoms 
of hope.” 
The garden of Secretary William H. Seward (in 
Auburn, New York), so beloved by him in his life- 
time, is shown on page 146 and facing page 134. In 
this garden some beds are edged with Periwinkle, 
others with Polyanthus, and some with Ivy which 
Mr. Seward brought from Abbotsford in 1836. This 
garden was laid out in its present form in 1816, and 
the sun-dial was then set in its place. The garden 
has been enlarged, but not changed, the old “George 
II. Roses” and York and Lancaster Roses still 
grow and blossom, and the lovely arches of single 
Michigan Roses still flourish. In it are many 
flowers and fruits unusual in America, among them 
a bed of Alpine strawberries. 
King James I. of Scotland thus wrote of the 
garden which he saw from his prison window in 
Windsor Castle : — 
“ A Garden fair, and in the Corners set 
An Herbere greene, with Wandis long and small 
Railit about.” 
These wandis were railings which were much 
used before Box edgings became universal. Some- 
times they were painted the family colors, as at 
Hampton Court they were green and white, the 
Tudor colors. These “ wandis ” still are occasion- 
ally seen. In the Berkshire Hills I drove past an 
old garden thus trimly enclosed in little beds. The 
rails were painted a dull light brown, almost the color 
