In laying out grounds for country homes or remodeling them, space should be of the first importance, and where space permits there is no better arrangement than a fine border on one side of the lawn with a driveway between the lawn and the border, leading from the street to the house and barns.  The border should be wide enough to have a nice variety of shrubs for a background, and there should be space for the hardy perennials and bulbs, which should not be planted solidly but placed in clumps and arranged according to height and blooming season and as to color effect.

I will mention a few of the hardy shrubs and plants that we can all grow with success.  While the catalogues are filled with a large list of so-called hardy stock, we must remember that we live in a good sized country and what would be hardy in Southern Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, would not stand the winters of Northern Iowa or of Minnesota or other localities of the same latitude.  In shrubs we can be sure of a variety of lilacs, snowballs, and hydrangea paniculata.  Some of the newer varieties are fine and bloom in August, when few other shrubs are flowering.  Spirea Van Houttii, best known as Bridal Wreath, we might include and a few of the hardy vines if a trellis or other support was given for them, such as clematis paniculata, coccinea and jackmani, the large purple and white honeysuckle, Chinese matrimony vine, etc.

Among hardy roses, which are called the queen of all flowers, are the Rugosa type, which will stand the winters with no protection and continue to flower all summer.  While the flowers of that type are single or semi-double, the bushes would be handsome without any flowers.  This type also produces hips, which adds to their attractiveness, and these may be made into jelly in the fall if so desired.  I would advise to plant some of the most hardy of the hybrid perpetual roses, such as General Jacqueminot, Magna Charta, Mrs. Chas. Wood, Mrs. John Lang, Mad.  Plantier, with some of the climbers, such as the Rambler in variety, Prairie Queen, Baltimore Belle and, perhaps, some others, with the understanding that the hybrids and climbers should have protection in some form for the winter months.

Then in hardy perennials there is such a variety to select from that one hardly knows where to begin or when to stop.  Of course everyone wants a few peonies, and some of the hardy phlox, in such a variety of color.  Then the delphinium, or hardy larkspurs, are fine bloomers.  The blue and white platycodon are sure to flower, while the German iris are good and the Japan iris are fine flowers, but have to have good protection to stand our winters.  For fine white flowers we have the showy achilleas in variety and gypsophila paniculata, called baby breath as a common name.  Then we must have plenty of space for a variety of annuals, such as sweet peas, cosmos, pansies, verbenas, etc.  Also, we would grow geraniums in variety, a few summer carnations, and the selection can be large or small, but almost every one will want some dahlia and gladiolus bulbs.  Those that like yellow, or lemon, lilies can plant them and have a mass of flowers during June.  The Japan lilies, especially the rubrum variety, are good bloomers and quite hardy.