178 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
infinite variety and interest.. A natural 
grandeur is not one given over to the 
spontaneous and uncontrolled growth of 
nature, but one in which a finished artist 
intensifies the effects that nature produces 
by emphasizing a feature here and there 
and eliminating every element that dis¬ 
tracts from the central purpose of the 
scheme. It is my belief that landscape art 
reaches its highest development when it 
deals successfully with the fundamental 
and permanent features of scenery, and 
with a broad handling of a few simple 
elements presents typical pictures which 
are instinct with the poetry of nature. The 
lesson to be enforced is that whether in 
the low levels of the South, or on the 
rocky coast of New- Ehgland, or in the 
glen among the Alleghenies the aim 
should not be to transform home-grounds 
into something foreign or fanciful, but to 
unfold and enhance the native and peculiar 
beauty of the spot; to develop its own 
beauty rather than to decorate it with 
imported ornament. This is not an easy 
achievement, it is true. It implies an art¬ 
ist’s sense, and it means to treat nature 
with respect, if not with reverence. Surely 
one who agreeably leads you to a point 
where you unconsciously pause before a 
well-composed picture from which all in¬ 
congruities are shut out by a frame of 
foliage, is accomplishing what the land¬ 
scape gardener aims at in his best con¬ 
structive efforts. Many who attempt this 
kind of work in Florida or elsewhere will 
fail of every high attainment, but they 
will not be in such danger of displaying 
impertinence and pretentiousness as will 
those who endeavor to obliterate from 
their land everything that is distinctive, 
and rid of everything common so that 
they can trick it out in exotic finery of 
their own choosing. 
Hotels, with every modern urban ap¬ 
pointment are to be found in the most un¬ 
tamed sections of the state, and evidences 
of luxury are seen in clearings where 
stumps are still standing. But well-kept 
gardens are not noticed among the marks 
of refinement. This does not imply a 
lack of taste or of inclination to the art, 
for elaborate gardens cannot reasonably 
be looked for in a country comparatively 
new. 
The whole aspect of nature must be 
softened and mellowed by years of human 
control before fair gardens are developed 
naturally and harmoniously out of their 
surroundings. It is not to be inferred 
from this that Florida has no ornamental 
planting to show. On the contrary, ex¬ 
amples are seen everywhere, and they are 
full of promise. Great numbers of the 
shrubs and vines that are ornaments of 
Northern greenhouses are here in full 
flower in February and March to the con¬ 
stant surprise of tourists from the colder 
latitudes. 
The possibilities for landscape garden¬ 
ing in Florida, with the abundant indig¬ 
enous growth of the state itself, are un¬ 
limited. And there is no better pattern 
for the style to be used, than the wild nat¬ 
ural hammock. If this general scheme is 
made use of in planting our home grounds 
we can produce effects that cannot be ri¬ 
valed in the northern gardens. Nature 
itself recommends dense planting so as to 
shade the ground, and here is the place 
for the native material where it will fur- 
