98 JOSEPH PLANTING THE GARDEN 
he thought it was likely to appear to the best ad- 
vantage. This is something which every one who 
starts a garden must think out for himself. The 
important points that Joseph has tried to remember 
have been the colours of the flowers, the heights 
to which the plants were apt to grow, and the neces- 
sity to set them in places that gave them the right 
exposure. Some plants are sun-loving, others de- 
light in shade; many have a bold, brilliant look, 
while others are shy and modest. When planting, 
therefore, Joseph has thought of the character and 
habit of the plants rather than the appearance of 
the little green things themselves when he set them 
in the soil. 
It is too bad that we have no peonies in our gar- 
den this season. They, however, start with the 
first warm breath of spring, and so do be:st when 
planted in the early autumn. As soon as that time 
comes we shall get roots of large plants, which then 
perhaps will give us great, toppling blooms the fol- 
lowing spring. I hope to persuade Joseph to buy 
only white peonies, although I know the dark crim- 
son ones open earlier, and the double pink ones are 
very beautiful. Still, the white ones are my favour- 
ites. 
In a garden near our old home, Joseph and I used 
to go early each spring to see the peony buds after 
they had worked their way up through the earth. 
They always had the round, shining look of little 
balls, until later when they burst into great white 
