34 
HERBACEOUS GARDEN 
of stem crowned with huge white blossoms. 
Roses galore, from the orange of William 
Allen Richardson, and the pale lemon of 
Celine Forestier, fill the opposite wall, and 
nestled into a group of tall white iris is an old 
Italian jar, with more iris planted in it. 
The centre and largest garden is entered 
through another arch with an old wrought- 
iron gate, and has wide borders running down 
the middle, with grass paths, and hedges of 
Thuja, perfectly clipped, and, though only 
planted six years ago, looking as old as the 
walls. Its sombre, almost red, depths and 
high lights of vivid green make a fitting back- 
ground for a splendid collection of delphinium 
in all shades of blue, from the pale Belladonna 
and Cantab to the richest ultramarines, indigos, 
and purples. 
In the third and further garden the same 
grass walk runs through ; but here the borders 
are curved in the form of half-moons, each 
crescent filled with some special flower, 
Statice, white pinks, Gypsophila, Funkia (for 
its glorious foliage), spiraeas, and many besides. 
Behind the Thuja and holly hedges were 
grown the unsuspected vegetables, and in large 
quantities too. This was an instance of an 
old country house with fine pleasure-grounds, 
