Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-07-01

From the Counlry Garden

hardly deserve the name. We tOndl}
associate them together in all our
thoughts. But alas The garden in which
the fancy delights to dwell is often too
unlike those which we actually find sur
rounding our best country dwellings.
Our grandmothers flowers did at least
suggest the ideal garden, but we can
hardly say as much for the very prosaic
gardening in vogue for the last few years.
The well-nigh universal use of bedding
plants in lines and geometrical forms
of solid color is intrinsically unbeautltul
and inartistic, and it is most refreshing To
a true lover of flowers to observe the re-
action which is beginning, and which will
undoubtedly hasten the return of truer
type.
Some study and loving thoughts must
go to the planting and preparation of the
home garden. which shall yield its fullest
return in beauty and human happiness;
garden being in this respect no excep-
tion TO the ordinary undertakings of life.
If we stop to consider what the flowers
are for which we really care, we shall rare
ly agree that they are those most common
or popular with the florists and profes-
sional gardeners.
Suppose we set about making, at least
on paper an ideal garden. The ground,
if a large place, Is presumably more or
less varied in character; the garden Is TO
be an essential part of the pleasure
grounds, occupied in common by trees,
fruit, shrubbery. grass and howers, We
will assume that this ground is already
well laid ont and planted with more i'm
portant, because slower growing trees
and chiefly masses of shrubbery. Shall
we cut great angular patches from the
turf at the most conspicuous points, and
paint them scarlet, or gray. or green, or
chocolate, by the use of geraneums and
coleus? No; we choose a less obtrusiN G,
more economical. a more permanent an
infinitely more beautiful and interesting
plan. We study carefully every variation
of situation exposure and soil. III order
to establish a great variety of the love
lest plants, which viii accommodate them
selves to our climate, so as to take root
and live in our garden, at home with us
year after year.
Perhaps we have depended so long up
ON the perishable exotics, which must be
renewed each year, that we are hardly
aware of the great wealth of beauty in
hardy plants that we have to draw upon.
We win have all the flowers of the poets
now. The spring shall come with the
sweet breath of daTodills, with snCWdrop
and crocus and banks of violet May
will bring the iris and the hyacinth; the
lilacs will be in bloom Gnd the sweet old
fashioned pinks. June shall heap the
world up with roses. With room enough
how can we resist making a rose garden
where the finer and more splendid var
ieties shall possess their own spot of
earth in bewildering beauty. In any
case there shall be "A generous mlnghng
of those sorts which will grow without
special care or skill, and make feast of
color and perfume and royal grace to fill
our rose Jars and our memories for q
I twelvemOnth.
By this time the lilies have begun TO
bloom Now the eampanulas, the great
perennial larkspurs, the magnificent sum
mer frises, the spireas, the passion How
ers, are in blossom; at every step there Ii
something new; we have entered upon the
bouudless richness of summer. The roses
and lilies alone might satisfy the heart OF
man: the well-establshed beds of lilies of
a good hardy garden are sight that de-
fies description: but nature is lavish, sire
gives in "a marvellous variety of beauty
and charm, and from this time on till
frost there is no pause. no stint III the
continual succession of new pertections.
1t is in vain that we try to name them
the peoples, the hollyhocks, the lilies Of
the valley, the foxgroves, the columbines,
the evening primroses, the wreaths and
garlands of the different varieties of
clematis. the honeysuckles, the pansies,
the stocks and gillihowers. Every one
will supply favorites which are omitted
here.
( Once established, they appear unbid-
den free spontaneous poetic We look
/ for them in the accustomed spot and are
never disappointed.
/ One great charm of garden OF this
sort is that. by careful disposition, the
! flowers in season always seem to be the
principal thing grown. Whatever Is out
/ of bloom resumes at once its subordinate
place SD the general effect, as a part Of
the necessary background of mingled
verdure II is matter Of choice whether
very little ground shall be wholly given
up 10 floral adornment, or whether addi-
tional brightness shall be gained by large
beds of ANIMALS and tender summer
blooming plants. A most delightful kind
Of Garden may be made boy growing flow
ers among well-spaced shrubbery, gar
dening in which 9th the shrubs and the
finest flowers gain something by the as
zociation. but 10 must be done with knowl-
edge and taste. The shrub must have
room enough TO develop in perfection
showing fully their characteristic form
and habit of growth, and the flowers must
be set in judicious groups and colonies,
with a good eye to contrast and light and
shade. There must be no regular rows Of
plants. nor amy effort 20 keep them close
/ iy trimmed and staked up: on the con
trary, something like the boldnezs and
( freedom OF nature must he aimed at IT
Is safe to follow her arrangement Of
broken colonies in which few scattered
individuals generally surround solid
ciump.
The effect Of each upon the rest must
BE carefully considered; We must look out
for breadth and harmony variety will
come without seeking. Considerable and
telling MASSES are required for good re-
suits. but il may be borne in mind that
that the finest specimens and clumps are