WATER GARDENS, ETC. 
into the water of the ponds, we saw that their 
roots were set in large tubs, which have to be taken 
up before cold weather and housed over the win- 
ter. They are among the rare garden treasures 
that Joseph and I know we shall never have. 
About the borders of these ponds, I have noticed 
other plants that are not rare, but which appear 
very beautiful by the side of the mirror-like water. 
One of these plants growing in great masses is the 
pickerel-weed. It is a common wild flower, for 
Mr. Percy and Joseph saw it by numbers of ditches 
and little streams one day when they were taking 
a walk in the open country. Countless irises grow 
by these ponds; and after their bloom has passed, 
the effect of their tall, sword-like leaves reflected 
in the water is most enchanting. High along one 
of the banks the Wichuraiana rose has spread itself 
into a sheet of bloom. It reminds me of our own 
rose-weed at the point of the triangle, for the 
Wichuraianas, like the morning-glories, have fallen 
into the ways of bad weeds. Many large clumps 
of showy grasses near these ponds help to make 
them among the most attractive spots of Nestly 
Heights. 
After looking long at these water gardens, I 
hinted to Joseph that perhaps next year we could 
make the moist point of our triangle more conspic- 
uous than it has been this season. If we had not 
only a few, but quantities of irises there, it would 
be an improvement, and we should have more 
