The Gardens of “ Avonwood Court" 
about 8 feet below the lawn of the house and 
b 1 ^ feet above the large rectangle, measuring 
104 by 127 feet, which is the principal part of 
the garden. By a single flight of steps, the 
lowest level is reached, and here are four large 
parterres whose outline is emphasized by beds 
of annuals and shrubs. The main walks are 
six feet wicie bordered by dwarf box; and as 
they intersect, they form a circle 24 feet in 
diameter. In the center of this is the sun¬ 
dial whose supporting shaft is elevated upon 
brickwork the shaded red Sayreville bricks, 
laid in mortar of the same color but somewhat 
lighter. The ball finials on the stairway balus¬ 
trades are of red terra-cotta, and even the treads 
of the steps themselves—in the lower flight 
at least—are of brick set on edge. Unfortu¬ 
nately, this was not feasible in the large upper 
flight. There, blue flagging forms the steps, 
and it is just as disagreeable a note in the 
beautiful winding stairway closely pressed by 
the gleaming foliage of the laurel, as in the 
THE SUN-DIAL 
“avonwood court” 
three bluestone plinths. Beside four pro¬ 
jections on the upper stone, corresponding to 
the cardinal points of the compass, have been 
planted single rhododend?on myrtifolium. 
The walks of the garden are made of coarse 
reddish gravel to which is juxtaposed the little 
edging of bright green box about eight inches 
high and four or five inches wide. These two 
materials reflect in the groundwork of the gar¬ 
den the color scheme of the vine-clad walls. 
Furthering this, the architect has used for his 
smooth cold grey platform of the sun-dial in 
the center of the garden. In all save this, the 
architectural part of the garden is eminently 
successful in that it is sober and restrained, 
and not overplaying its part in a scene chiefly 
carried by the shrubs and flowers. 
The planting aims to provide a sea of 
bright color within the darker lines of the 
surrounding walls. A large proportion of 
the area, therefore, is given to flower beds 
and the amount of grass which separates 
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