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Planning the Paths and 
the Flower-Beds 
NCE upon a time there was a castle.” So begins 
many a fairy tale, and so will I begin this 
description of Sofiero — the description which I 
have undertaken after much hesitation and with some 
diffidence. But so many have asked me to describe the 
spot ; and, moreover, I am convinced that one is amply 
repaid for the time and money one spends on gardening. 
Let me at the outset ask my readers’ indulgence for my 
many shortcomings as an authoress. 
Yes, once upon a time there was a castle. It was 
built in Scanialand, in the south of Sweden, and it had one 
of the loveliest situations in the world. But when my 
husband and I had it given to us, there was scarcely 
anything in the way of flowers, and the whole place gave 
one the impression of being the enchanted forest where 
the fairy-tale princess still slept. She might, perhaps, 
be enjoying her sweet slumber, and yet we wanted some- 
thing else, something more than an enchanted forest. And 
so we began forthwith to make our plans as to how we 
might beautify that charmingly situated spot. 
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On the North Side 
of the Castle. 
Standing on the steps 
of the main entrance — on 
the north facade of the 
castle— one looks out over 
a wide stretch of lawn with 
a few isolated venerable 
trees. Where the lawn 
A bed of Lavender, 
bordered by Marigolds, 
at the foot of the castle 
wall. The large pot 
holds Geraniums. 
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