“The old-fashioned flowers are lovely—­sweet William, phlox, old-fashioned pinks, petunia, verbena, zinnia, marigold, mignonette, and poppy are always dear and sweet.  Hollyhocks are charming.  They represent a kind of guard for the garden.  Stand this hollyhock phalanx up against a wall like naughty boys, close to the house, or by an old fence.  They are so tall that they must be in the background.  They grace it.  Otherwise they would overtop and shadow the other garden plants.  If there is an old ash pile, an old dump or anything else unsightly, plant something tall before it.  Hollyhocks would not do for this, since their foliage is too scanty.  Castor beans are just the thing, however; and sunflowers, the old giant ones, are good, too.  A screen is for screening, so that the foliage is of first consideration.

“A wild-flower garden is a good scheme, too.  What is lovelier?  Bank in a north corner full of these.  Hepatica, columbines, anenome, bellflower, butterfly weed, turtle head and aster represent wild flowers which bloom from March through October.  I can see that north corner now.  Miriam has planned to have one, and has really done the work this fall.

“The water garden is another good thing to try with just the right setting.  A place at the end of a slope of land, near some drooping trees, a bit shaded would be right.  The garden Philip made is a pattern for you all to follow.

“Finally, let us sum up our landscape lesson.  The grounds are a setting for the house or buildings.  Open, free lawn spaces, a tree or a proper group well placed, flowers which do not clutter up the front yard, groups of shrubbery—­these are points to be remembered.  The paths should lead somewhere, and be either straight or well curved.  If one starts with a formal garden, one should not mix the informal with it before the work is done.

“At one time we said a little about poor taste in garden furnishings.  Painted kettles, old drain pipes, whitewashed bricks, and edgings of shells seemed to us then a bit fussy and crude.  So, too, is a summer house stuck out on the front lawn, a rustic seat all by itself in an open spot, an archway which forms an arch over nothing.  The summer house should be placed in the side yard, or in the rear in a spot where trees lend it a background.  If its use is that of a resting spot for your mother, she certainly would not wish it right out on the front lawn.  If the house is for children to play in, then again it is not for the front of the house.  An appropriate place is near the garden where it makes a cool place to rest after labour, a spot from which to view the beauties of the garden, and a charming place to serve afternoon tea.