The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-15
The Tool House Built BY Wales
ana Ddinburg When Mere
Lads.
Bouqusts for Brides From : Myrtle
Planted BY tho Prlncsss Royal
Trees Planted.

Osborne house, which has bsen added TO
frequently since the quesn arst took pos
session, ID some distance away from the
private gardens. They are called the Swiss
cottage from the fact that in the middle Of
this miniature paradiss for flowers . chalet
stands surrounded by huge pines and othsr
treas such m n aees growing luxuriAntly
in Switzerland. To these gardens, morn
ing and evening in summer. the queen pro-
ceeds in her small pony phaeton, Princess
Beatrice walking BY her side and the faith
full henchman in attendance.
Armed with special permission, Mr..
Wheeler had no difficulty in entering the
gardens and snlisting the services OF the
head gardener. who had previously been in
Hughenden, and Dean Stanley. and Lady
Augusta; and many were the af%ectionate
"reminiscences the gardener had to tell Of
both his previous employers. Every por-
ton of the ground, some three acres in ex-
tent, under his charge was a blaze OF color.
On the right of the entrance gate stands
the children's tool-houae, built Gas a slip of
wood in the queens handwriting reports)
by tho prince OF Wales and the duke Of
Edinburgh in 1857. II 10 still In splendid
preservation, for the late prince consort al
ways taught his children to do things
well: Judging from the large tool 81
duke of Edinburgh were no mean adopts
at carpsntsring, the boarding Of the sides
being substantially put together and the
gables Of the roof mortised in true form;
frequently, whom the prince Of Wales visits
the gardens, he looks critically round this
shed to see that the jennings are secure. 1t
is kept exactly as it was when the princes
and princesses were young, the barrows and
garden tools being in nm excellent state of
preservation. Each child had a perfect set
Of tools with . barrow and wagon. and the
which tho children often drew her about.
The initials of each Of the royal children
are painted on the back of the implements,
with the exception of those Of Princess Boa
trics and the duke of Albany, who were
then worry young and had to put up with q
toy horse and cart and a vsry small barrow.
Tho dukes OF Edinburgh and C~onnnught
were very fond Of building stone and brick
work, and their handiwork can be seen in
another part of the gardens in tho Shape of
racks" which was finished Got. 2, 1860. 1t
was under the eye Of the prince consort
these Notifications were commenced, and
splendid sham battles wero fought here by
the children, this duke Of ConnauGht and
the luke Of Edinburgh defending their
MI NJ ] II &VVNSA W AAoAA
brothers and sisters. 1t is an oft-rspeatsd
story that sometimes the attack, led by the
prince OF Wales, was too much for Prince
Alfred and Prince Arthur, who were driven
off the battlemsnts into the underground
chamber, which was proof against capture,
and In which they had a separate store Of
arms. The fortress is kept in exactly the
same order ~ it was th0n, and the duchess
of Albany's and the Princess Beatrice's
children often now scamper over tho deep
ditch in front and play again the games of
their uncles and aunts.
Close to the fortress grows q tree which
has one Of the most interesting of histories.
1t ia 4 myrtle some five feet high. growing
luxuriantly. although nipped Considerably
by last winters harsh winds. The tree, az
spFig Of myrtle taken By the queen from
the princess royals wedding bouquet OF
the day of her marriage with the German
emperor. The inscription under the tree
states. Myrtle grown from . sprig Of tho
princess ROYALS marriage nosegay, January
ruary Z. 1873, in homo OF the marriage OF
her granddaughter, Princess Charlotte OF
Prussia" Tbs latter was ths eldest daughter
of the Empress Frederick. Sprays from this
tree have since done duty in the bouquets
I OF other royal brides. and, 70 Judge by ita
condition, the tree will provide bouquets for
many years to come.
Every tree planted in these gardens seems
10 flourish, particularly the many trees
planted by the royal family in February,
1867, to perpetuste the memory Of their
father, the late prince c%onsort, who died in
December. 1861. These form an avenue in
themselves Of exceeding beauty.
What might almost DO called a sacred
grove of trses is in another par! of the gar
dans, close to the museum, stocked with GU
parts OF the globs: 4 crocodile from the
Nile, shot by the duke Of Connaught; q
huge eagle shot by the prince Of Wales in
the east; hugo tusks Of ivory. nearly eight
feet long; a mummy in its case, and various
shells, butterflies and pebbles. In frole Of
rates the marriage Of each one Of the
queens children. First come two splendid
frs in memory Of the prince Of Wales'a
wedding, planted there by the prince and
princess after their honeymoon; then two
planted by the duke and duchess Of Edin-
Of tile duke and duchess Of C%onnaught,
Prince Henry of B~attenberg. n Princess
Beatrice and the. duke and duchess of Al
bany. The queen frequently takes her af-
ternoon tea on the lawn amidst these en-
blems OF the ha!S union OF her children.
There ia only ona bed OF flowers in this
beautiful grass plot, which is in summer
fragrant with the smell of pinks and CANA
tions, and this is always watched BY the
Princess Beatrice, who tends and cares fol
the flowers for the queens delight. The
queen loves gardening, and all her children
were taught to dig and plant flowers. fruit
and vegetables in season. Each ckild had
n separate garden, and each had exactly the
same kinds of vegetables and flowers
These gardens are still kept MP exactly NJ
years ago. There are fourteen beds in eack
garden, consisting OF two flower beds, tvs
Strawberries. two goosoberries, two cur
rants, two raspberries and one row each ot