![[Illustration: 22. Petunias against a background of osiers.]](images%5Cfig022.png)
![[Illustration: 23. A sowing of flowers along a marginal planting.]](images%5Cfig023.png)
We should acquire the habit of speaking of the
flower-border. The border
planting of which we have spoken sets bounds to the place, and makes it
one's own. The person lives inside his place, not on it. Along these
borders, against groups, often by the corners of the residence or in
front of porches--these are places for flowers. Ten flowers against a
background are more effective than a hundred in the open yard.
I have asked a professional artist, Mr Mathews, to draw me the kind of a flower-bed that he likes. It is shown in Fig. 21. It is a border,--a strip of land two or three feet wide along a fence. This is the place where pigweeds usually grow. Here he has planted marigolds, gladiolus, golden rod, wild asters, China asters, and--best of all--hollyhocks. Any one would like that flower-garden It has some of that local and indefinable charm that always attaches to an "old-fashioned garden" with its medley of form and color Nearly every yard has some such strip of land along a rear walk or fence or against a building It is the easiest thing to plant it,--ever so much easier than digging the characterless geranium bed into the center of an inoffensive lawn. The suggestions are carried further in 22 to 25.
![[Illustration: Fig. 24. An open back yard. Flowers may be thrown in freely along the borders, but they would spoil the lawn if placed in its center.]](images%5Cfig024.png)
![[Illustration: Fig. 25. A flower garden at the rear or one side of the place.]](images%5Cfig025.png)