HOUSE AND GARDEN 
382 
May, 1913 
The walks are as distinctive as other parts of the English gardens, and 
this one of earth is in characteristic harmony with flowers and cottage 
from its green freshness; faded flower heads are trimmed off; 
and everything- is perpetually in order. Everything- has its place 
and keeps it, thanks to the discipline maintained ; consequently 
everything has room enough — and there actually is no crowding, 
although the space is brim full. However small the space may be, 
too, it still affords garden opportunities, under this method. 
Elere, for instance, is a scrap of land alongside an old stone 
cottage which is as eloquent an example as may be found of 
adaptation to conditions, and of small opportunity made the most 
of. The crudest materials have been used—stones and old tree 
stumps, hollowed out to hold earth — but a garden bit of exquisite 
harmony and feeling has been produced; and this on a four-foot 
strip against a building — one of the most difficult spots to handle 
satisfactorily. Really this little garden is almost vertical, with the 
vines and rose against the cottage and the other plants among the 
d here is a fulness about these gardens which, although it does not 
result in overcrowding, yet occupies all the available space 
rocks so close at the foot of its walls. The rose which is not at 
once apparent in the picture, ascends against the wall beyond the 
bow window, one branch sprawling over the stump at the right. 
This spreading and climbing rose emphasizes one of the secrets 
of the charm of old gardens generally, and of this type of garden 
in particular; that is, the close relationship, the intimacy existing 
between the house and the garden. The nearness of the house to 
the ground is one reason for this unity, of course, but growth 
that ascends the house wall as well as spreads outward at the 
foot of that wall unites house and ground as no merely vertical 
growth possibly can. It is directly into the house entrances that 
the well-kept garden walks lead, however, with no arrogant steps 
to interrupt or delay them on their way; and this makes it seem 
that the turf and the flowers themselves would be as welcome 
inside as out, if they chose to venture within such inviting portals; 
no barrier is ever raised to stay their 
progress. 
Here is a hillside garden, for exam¬ 
ple, where there is ready entrance from 
every level. Surely it would occasion 
no surprise to find the flowers marching 
in and making themselves at home. 
Why shouldn't they? Is it not evident 
that outdoors and indoors are so close 
to each other as to be almost one, in 
this home? Observe that here in this 
garden, however, even with all its 
abundance and sweet disorder, there is 
no clutter and no crowding. The grav¬ 
eled walks maintain their proper lines; 
and the luxury of bloom is such as 
comes only to plants that do not have to 
struggle for a living. Here is a verita¬ 
ble flower paradise, where none is wor¬ 
ried or troubled — and none is lonely. 
The walks themselves are as distinct¬ 
ive as all the rest in these gardens that 
are so close and intimate a part of the 
house and the home. Nowhere is there 
a walk that in itself is not interesting, 
full of character, and possessed of a 
real beauty. Such a hideous thing as 
cement is unknown; care and thought 
have been put into the construction of 
these homely utilities, and they are de¬ 
veloped as real features, with real indi- 
A walk of four parallel rows of tiles set in the turf not only adds character to the stretch of turf, 
but prevents an unsightly path being worn in the grass 
