“Planting Near the Sea 
Gardening near the seashore on Cape Cod in- 
volves in many cases problems not encountered in 
less exposed situations. 
Generally speaking, it is not so much winter- 
hardiness which concerns us, for the fact that “‘we 
face four seas’? means that temperatures in both 
winter and summer do not reach the extremes ex- 
perienced inland. Indeed many fine plants such as 
the Blue Hydrangeas, Firethorn, Butterfly Bush and 
Abelia are reliable and winter-hardy here. 
The prevailing salt-laden winds of summer when 
plant growth is young and tender do sharply curtail 
the number of shrubs, trees and evergreens that can 
succeed in sea exposure. 
Rugosa roses, bayberry, beach plum, Russian olive 
and the more recently introduced Japanese black 
pines are most resistant. But if a sturdy windbreak is 
provided on the windward side, a surprising number 
of the less resistant kinds of plants will succeed on 
the sheltered side. Good soil preparation and close 
planting to provide mass effects are essential for 
survival. 
Our long experience in seashore gardens, knowl- 
edge that comes often from trial and error through 
the years, enables us to recommend wisely and to 
plant successfully. 
The struggle against storm winds off the sea 
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