20 
House & Garden 
the divisions and transplantings, the 
mulching and enriching of the beds, 
the harvesting of dahlia roots and 
gladiolus bulbs, the bringing of 
plants indoors to winter over in that 
sunny bay window. 
Many people make the mistake of 
thinking that autumn marks the end 
of the garden year. Autumn is only 
the garden’s ultimate perfection, and 
the ultimate perfection of a thing, as 
the philosopher has said, is that it is 
the beginning of something new. 
Even in the chill north wind there 
is the promise of spring balminess. 
The withered stalks hold a hint of 
greater growth next season. In this 
autumn’s smashed and scraggly lily 
clump is hidden the beginning of a 
larger clump next spring. On every 
side there is this promise of some¬ 
thing new and something better. In 
Although much of her 
beauty is inherited from 
August, September’s glory 
is not to be despised. 
She boasts the flash and 
flame of turning leaf and 
a satisfying number of 
autumnal blossoms. Also, 
she wears a scarf of blue 
mist lightly around her 
shoulders 
the irreparable past of autumn lurks 
the available future of another gar¬ 
den year. 
Next year is the constant Life-To- 
Come of gardeners. The mistakes 
of this year will be rectified then. 
The undesirable colors will be root¬ 
ed out of that perennial border. The 
iris that never did do well where it 
is will be given another chance in 
another environment. Those special 
strains of snapdragon and sweet pea 
you’ve been longing to try out will 
find a place in next year’s garden. 
Next year! Next year! 
The autumn mood of the garden 
lover is quickened with this begin¬ 
ning of something new; it is strong 
with a promise of fulfillment. 
For many of us life is so ordered 
that by November we lose our gar¬ 
den interest. Not until February or 
Many people make the 
mistake of thinking that 
autumn marks the end 
of the garden year. Au¬ 
tumn is only the garden's 
ultimate perfection, and 
the ultimate perfection of 
a thing, as the philoso¬ 
pher has said, is that it 
is the beginning of some¬ 
thing new 
?<irSor) 
