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http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924002826992
PLATE
I.
JOSEPH
'
The
Garden Book
for
Young
By
People
Alice Lounsberry
eU.
mm
New York
Frederick A. Stokes
Publishers
Company
the
Copyright
FREDERICK
A.
1908,
by
STOKES COMPANY
March^ igo8
All rights reserved
(5
4 V/
PREFACE
THIS book
tells
the story of a
brother Joseph,
who
young
utilise
girl
and her
a triangular strip
The
girl
ifi
wage war
prepare
Older inhabitants
of
the
suburb,
who have
reader.
A. L.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
PAGE
The
Early
The
Planting
IV Miss Wiseman's
Decision
II
.,
Preparations
III
.j
First
Suggestions
VA
Day's
Hard Work
^Joseph
VII
the
in the
Seeds. ...
to
XII Planting
XIII
24
40
48
56
64
72
80
88
Garden
96
XIV May
XV^About Wild and Cultivated
XVIThe Last May Days
Time
XVII
9
17
32
for Roses
104
Flowers 113
Garden
122
130
138
CONTENTS
viii
PAGE
CHAPTER
XIXA
Day
XXThe Garden Gives Its Reward.
XXIThe Drought
XXII Our Phloxes and Hehotrope. ...
XXIIIThe End of the Drought
XXIVThe Fall of One of the Spruces.
of Play
XXV
Early
163
171
179
187
Little
August Days
Wins
Joseph
the Tourna-
ment
219
XXXII
155
XXVI Water
XXVII
XXVIII
I47
Ready
for Bulb-Planting
Chrysanthemums
XXXVThe
Snow
227
236
244
252
261
269
277
LIST
OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PIATE
FACING PAGE
the
Frontispiece
of the
II
III
to the
here"
is
26
38
52
60
of Narcissus poeticus
"I
a bird's
uncoiled beside
XII
"I
may become
72
74
lovely
.
a Rosarian"
XIIIWild Ginger
XIV Two Spring Orchids
XV "Blue
soon"
XVI "Blowing
78
82
86
94
98
bloom for
100
us
to keep the
moths away"
ix
102
LIST or ILLUSTRATIONS
XVII "May
FACING PAGE
PLATE
country
in the
is
as lovely
104
108
June"
as
Flag
XX Columbines
XXI "Apple blossoms have begun
no
114
to
122
June Roses
124
132
XXIII
knees
spruces
wreath
XXVI
"We
is
to get
down on
his
drive
outlined
where the
in bloom"
bridal
154
spurs"
156
160
Phlox Drummondi
Nasturtiums
XXIXCosmos
XXVII
XXVIII
XXX
144
by
170
176
ever"
still
lovely"
against the
84
188
1
196
told
just
to
blue
on the surface"
XXXV Countless
Irises
XXXVI Rose-mallows
198
lilies float
204
208
212
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
ri-ATE
xl
FACIHG PAGE
XXXVIIA
XXXVIII
Petted
"Miss
Hydrangea
216
224
230
234
other"
"Joseph with
a large package of
dropping
"Timothy been
farmer"
of
VIII
XL
"At
dead"
through
XLIX "Queenie
XLVII
has
in the clutches
268
the
all
272
is
trudges
snow"
the
282
CONTENTS
viii
PAGE
CHAPTER
XIXA
Day of Play
XXThe Garden Gives
XXIThe Drought
I47
Its
Reward.
163
of the
171
Drought
179
XXVI
XXVII
XXVIII
155
187
195
Little
Joseph
Wins
the Tourna-
ment
219
227
236
XXXI Getting
XXXII
XXXVThe
Snow
261
269
277
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PLATE
FACING PAGE
the
Frontispiece
of the
II
III
Bluebirds
Possession of the
6
26
to the
is
rocking
slept
38
52
60
of Narcissus poeticus
"I
a bird's
uncoiled beside
XII
"I
may become
72
74
lovely
a Rosarian"
XIIIWild Ginger
XIV Two Spring Orchids
XV "Blue
soon"
XVI "Blowing
78
82
86
94
98
bloom for
100
us
to keep the
moths away"
ix
102
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
"""=
PLATE
XVII "May
in the
country
is
I04
io8
June"
as
XVIIIThe Wild
XIX Pink
Blue Flag
no
Dogwood
XX
Columbines
XXI
ii4
XXII Pointed
XXIIIJune
124
132
Blue-eyed Grass
Roses
XXIV "Joseph
his
XXV "The
long
drive
outlined
where the
wreath is in bloom"
spruces
XXVI "We
144
by
bridal
154
156
160
spurs"
XXVII Phlox
Drummondi
Nasturtiums
XXX "Their golden
XXVIII
170
176
XXIX Cosmos
cups gleamed as
brightly as ever"
'*=
as lovely
184
"Golden glow
"He knows without
still
188
lovely"
just
how
196
being told
to handle a plant"
198
XXXV Countless
Irises
XXXVI Rose-mallows
204
208
212
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PLATE
xl
FACING PAGE
XXXVIIA
XXXVIII
Petted Hydrangea
216
"Miss
224
230
234
other"
XXXIXHydrangeas
XLThe Tamed
XLI
and Phloxes
Butterfly
"Joseph with
a large package of
dropping them
"Timothy been
farmer"
XLVIII "At
dead"
through
XLIX "Queenie
XLVII
has
in the clutches
268
of the
all
272
is
trudges
snow"
the
282
o
<;
Pi
H
W
K
H
O
<
H
.J
THE DECISION
time Joseph and
had thought that
FORwesome
should
to have
garden.
Not
I
like
we
until
ever, did
we
Then
first
the
we were
obliged to
make
while
still
trolleys
THE DECISION
2
important places
in that
Nev-
number of spruce
their
trees,
circle that
out-held
great,
branches enclosing, according to the season, a summer house or supporting one of snow. Joseph,
who
is
much
in
sympathy with
am
four years
To
At
is
now
so well
grown
first
was so severe
looks
in
neither of us
Hayden
Mr.
of Nestly Heights.
was
indicated
walls,
THE DECISION
at all.
Both our near neighbours have gardens for vegeand for flowers, and their contentment is
very great.
We hear that last autumn Miss Wiseman, whose place adjoins ours on the north, had
a single dahlia, larger and finer than any which
tables
deficiency.
incidentally,
bours.
Our
neighbour,
three sons:
THE DECISION
lives
neighbourhood
is
Queenie Perth.
who
She
takes a
The
a high wall.
It
We
is so shaped.
perhaps
should have preferred a circular or a rectangular
garden; but the triangle happened to be the most
available bit of
Joseph, who has the gift of spying out the advantageous in all things, says that at
least we can put the same plants in a triangular plot
aunt had left us.
in the fashion
it
should be
THE DECISION
of some particular type.
The more
I read, the
more
make
Above
all,
we
the places
nurserymen.
One
day,
still
early in
floors
and open doorways. A bird might well beNature herself had made them. Joseph's
lieve that
man
that
THE DECISION
We
we were
quite in
to the tree.
that slipped in
It
first
to see if
it
appeared to be telling him all her intended arrangeJoseph thought that they were also congratulating themselves that their long trip north-
ments.
now
settle
down
cosy a home.
Soon after
this
proach of spring.
we were
There was
a scent of
new earth
and the sound of soft winds in the treeWinter with its biting cold was being driven
away. The bluebirds talked loudly together, and
at the point of the triangle where it becomes soft
and spongy to the feet we saw a number of long,
slender, black birds, very merry and busy with wooing and chatter.
Yet the grass that covered the
triangle was still colourless; the trees were bare,
and the earth under them was strewn with dead
in the air
tops.
leaves.
if
.^...^.vl..i;3S?t2^S5|*te=a.
W/^y^j^ ij;t^rr.-^fif,'ik4^
PLATE
III.
THE
HUNG
TO
THE DECISION
On
the
He
early.
was
enthusiastic.
"Those
fast,
me at breakwood by the
There
summer."
wall.
Thus
far
is
now
we had
let
for the
slightest exertion.
This same day the man who had made the birdhouses came and asked if he could help us get
ready for planting.
The back of winter now
seemed to be broken, he said. Here indeed was
something definite. "The farmers hardly think
it is time for ploughing yet," he remarked, and
added that there was a good deal of clearing up
Further, he told
to be done about the Six Spruces.
us that his name happened to be Timothy Pennell,
and that he took an interest in the place, having
It
sometimes worked on it for our great-aunt.
was he who had told Joseph the long, black birds
were called grackles. Timothy seemed to know
all about planting turnips and potatoes and beans
and a good deal about flowers, although he said
he mostly noticed the wild ones that came up of
themselves in the woods and swamps.
"We shall plant some wild flowers," Little Joseph told him, "and have others that grow only in
gardens."
THE DECISION
Timothy
asked,
garden
We
He
"They
"there
is
will
no use
come anyway,"
in
Joseph
replied,
What we
CHAPTER
II
EARLY PREPARATIONS
THE
way
in
asleep," he said,
"and
it is
"The farmers
are
assured us that
it
it
He
EAELY PREPARATIONS
10
and
leaves
tufts
lying
of grass
He
chopping
am
"I
it
up for fire-wood.
sure
man
I said to
overheard.
"No, miss," he
replied, "but
many
it is
just
what the
years."
We
were really thankful when he left the currant-bushes alone, only remarking that in a day or
two he would give them a good spraying with limesulphur.
He went next to the blush-rose bush that
stands near the south veranda and began clipping.
Now
had heard
EARLY PREPARATIONS
11
was
pitiful to
clip, clip
every minute.
great-aunt, he said,
be
if
He
how much
really loved.
had always
finer
It
told our
Of
course
He
we
let
him go
on.
lilac
With
wave of
his
all
When
it
was
EARLY PREPARATIONS
12
Timothy Pennell
to
work
planted.
We
Here spring
is
First of
phere.
Then
in
swampy
it,
Every-
places.
The
great,
Wherever
there
recognised
that
grow
among
in
other trees.
The
red maples
had ever
EARLY PREPARATIONS
13
perfect as if
it
soming.
Mr. Hayden
said
did sight!"
There
I
is
no weeping willow
should very
men have
much
Timothy
says that
is
when autumn
comes,
planting them.
It has
was rich
and well drained, and that flowers would have
grown there luxuriously if our great-aunt had deThe blush-rose bush was noted for
sired them.
sending out many and perfect flowers each season
when, from one year to another, it was neither
pruned nor sprayed. It was left instead to grow
Nestly that the
soil
Timothy
talks
now
as
unmolested as a wild
is
to be planted
,with flowers.
EARLY PREPARATIONS
14
roll
down
it
it
rain,
it,
and
as
Timothy
number of
powder over
then to sow
much
as
Still,
when the
earth
was moist
He
lamented
sown the seeds in late Septhey might then have taken root and
tember, since
had
He
said his
seems
a child
am
right for
seph says
I
all
nearly seventeen.
bell,
the spireas,
and the
started.
It
flowers, but
is
likely that
we hope
if
we
shall
Little Joseph
is
merely to be
have but few
Even
lilacs.
garden
more
beautiful.
is
EARLY PREPARATIONS
15
lawn.
we
Sometimes we dread
lest
improve the
what we do
will
make
his
own
mar
Is
much
as
Imagine
is
how
It delights
me
to
bloom on the
triangle,
the wood-border.
It has lately turned so cold that Little Joseph
has been prevented from working out-of-doors and
EARLY PREPARATIONS
16
Wiseman
and then
earth that
dead
lies
leaves.
library
filled
rich
all
He
own.
One day
my
He
ures.
as the boxes.
He
He
handle
to
mind
have some of
his
CHAPTER III
THE
MY way
FIRST PLANTING
March days
we wished
We
first
in the
we
to be sure of having
garden.
and bought
sow out-of-doors as soon
Almost every day
the ground.
to
Joseph looks over these seed packages, reading anew their labels and thinking how wonderful
it will be when through his care they turn into
Little
It
was
18
the easiest
soil
work of
through a
all.
sieve, in
we made
little
drew the
soil
with a
ruler.
We
Then
first
order that
might be
it
fine
The furrows
which we planted
in a
it
down
evenly
box by
itself,
were about an
which
filled
lightly.
seeds,
were
19
plants shooting
flowers.
I told him, however, that I would rather
have a good many flowers of one kind early in the
year, than to have only a few later of a great many
kinds.
Little
Joseph knew as
did that
it
was not
neces-
We could have
open when the frost
had left the ground. But Little Joseph's fingers and
mine also were tingling to plant something. We
could not wait with patience until the farmers began
to plough.
The window-boxes made us feel that
some things were already started. In fact, they
were our first experiments. Joseph was pleased
besides to think that he had done something which
was not mentioned in "An Ambitious Boy's Garden."
That boy had not a bit of glass on his place
as large as a camera plate.
But then this was not
the first year that he had had a garden.
or the cardinal-flowers indoors.
The
in the
It
is
20
when
other
In
fact,
another closet in the library which Joseph has taken possession of for his magazines and
There
is
These
catalogues.
every post.
Timothy
come
earlier
He was
how
had made a
He
pushed
his finger
it
touched a heap of
fine,
smooth
21
sticks so
By
quite closed.
it
Joseph wondered
moved
He
re-
how
the wrens
see
appeared
Little
free.
Indeed, the little wrens had been clever
enough to block completely the doorway at the bottom and to let the nest slant back a little from the
top, thus leaving the space to slip in by an upward
line
of
flight.
Only
a little bird
knows how
to build in that
22
peace.
No
At
too
first
many
Wiseman
Joseph shook
things to attend to at
home
had far
to spend
to help him,
this, since
she
had
to carry
Miss Wiseman.
and we wondered
if
now
nearly
As Joseph
air,
23
however, was
gradually raked
down by
still
the
boggy point of the triangle he saw that the pussywillow shrubs were nearly covered with soft grey
catkins.
They had grown a great deal since the
last time he looked at them, and were the largest
pussy-willows he had ever seen.
This was because
no one had picked from or marred the bushes for
many
years.
Nestly Heights.
touched by the
in all gardeners.
spirit
He
thought
lies
hidden
CHAPTER
IV
where!"
This was
true.
Little
many
lift-
Some
made a
places.
"We
might have
set out a
few
in
25
crocuses
as
in
swered.
selves at
you."
We
followed Miss
Wiseman
to a part of her
Two men
places
He had been
Master Joseph was delighted.
wishing that we might have more shrubs at the
Six Spruces than just the one yellow bell, the two
splreas
lilacs.
He
and Queenie
at
"An
26
ever, Little
find out
Joseph wondered
how
to
make
if
a perfect garden.
Until
to-
tended to make.
The year
its
neighbour.
He
will re-
it.
"Summer
is
not
low her
butterflies
The
place to place.
,
me
of a
shy
child, yet,
liftzAtf^^att^a^./-
^tj_,_;!^wi_r^^
PLATE
f/*
IV.-
_^.^
.^^
''summer
IS
^J^.
NOT HERE"
^\^^/
Miss Wiseman's
27
place, Jo-
it
on the ground.
He
had heard of no seeds being planted out-ofdoors as yet, so he thought they must be grass seed,
and he wondered if the grass would come up and
turn green by the time the birds had finished their
He
nests.
Mr.
"Is
it?"
thinking
it
Mr.
Bradley
"We
replied.
in
were
sweet
peas."
Joseph asked a great many questions: why Mr. Bradley dug the trench two feet
deep
for it seemed to him that the plants would
Then
Little
its
answered.
"It settles
down
after
it
and makes the earth rich for the roots to sink into."
Joseph then saw the men fill the trench nearly to
made
of old ma-
soil
He
28
As
the seed-row.
my
continue to
grow
thumb; and
as they
way
furrow is filled.
It is likely that we shall
give it a good watering about twice a week."
After the newly sown seeds were watered, Mr.
Bradley said things were pretty well looked after
for the present.
Joseph then asked when the
sweet peas would be in bloom and what would be
until the
He
tip
of his tongue
well,
Later
we
we have
will cover
may have
You
see
order that
a suitable place on
which
to climb."
all
come
In
29
will always
handy."
pink.
fashionable gardener
While
more than mixed ones,
seeds cost a
able time
little
was saved
assorted
consider-
when
us to decide where
We
all, it
we should
was necessary
for
itself,
and
The boggy
soil
was
was too
and the
side
by the wood-border
told
Joseph said.
and the wall will
tle
We
believed
to climb."
we had
when
30
to west.
Now
if
you had a
rail
"
fence
"Then
is
to set about
and build
wire
Master Joseph,
If I were
trellis.
age to accommodate
I
At
least that
my
is
the
way
man-
sweet peas."
tiful,
as
but to build a
trellis
for
them
Wiseman
said.
to
grow upon.
much
as
Mr. Bradley
week or
ten days."
warm when
into
when
You
set
it
is
no place for
a flower to snuggle
about the
trellis
31
is
settled.
and plant the seeds when it is finished. Your flowers will be here soon enough."
We both felt that about this, as about everything
else. Miss Wiseman must be quite right.
After we had returned home, Little Joseph and
I walked down by the six spruces.
They were
moving very gently In the breeze, and had the solemn look that always comes over them when the
sun begins tO' sink in the west.
Underneath them,
the ground was a mat of needles, and they had still
the dull brownish look which they assume in the
winter.
Little Joseph said that, if we had some
seats and a table within their circle, we should have
a real summer-house where there would always be
a breeze.
We wondered If Timothy, who had
made
trellis
The
six spruces
CHAPTER V
A day's hard work
ALTHOUGH
astir
the
night
Garden."
before
First of
matter of the
trellis
As
they
They
of the plot where the clothes-posts stand.
would then be near enough the house for us to see
them often and to enjoy their delicate scent. At
Miss Wiseman's, they are far away from the house
in what she calls her picking garden. Before breakfast, Joseph and the old man had set about making
a strong but simple trellis.
It
32
33
it
so that these
When
that
the
trellis
little
sections
appeared to
path.
was well
it
pretty.
"It
is
"we
are going
this trellis,
he
first
began to drive
wood much
Joseph
When
window-boxes,
and
His birthday was
thought that I would give
as they pleased,
now
not far
him
ofF, and I
box of carpenter's tools instead of the baseball bat I had had in mind.
Just as the last nail was being driven into the
trellis, and Joseph and the old man stood viewing
their work, a wheelbarrow full of shrubs came over
from Miss Wiseman's. The plants were not much
to look at, being then entirely without leaves, and
we could not even imagine what blossoms would
do for them. To us, one bare twig had an appearStill they were tagged as
ance very like another.
promised,
but with names that
Mr. Bradley had
neither we nor Timothy had ever heard before.
Timothy looked at them most carefully.
"This one has reddish twigs," he said, "see how
I am thinking It
different It is from the others.
must be the red-twigged dogwood."
"The twigs of this one look reddish underneath,
while above they are covered with a greenish-brown
roughness,"
"Then
I said.
likely to
it is
the same
bell,
Tim-
othy
said.
"And
able to
this
tell
"It
may
notice
it is
one?"
I asked,
for he seemed to be
not very
white flowers.
tall.
Most
likely
it
"You
will bear
"I
feel
if I
am
not mistaken,
it
smoke-bush."
"If that means smoke-bush, you are right," said
Little Joseph,
bit of
old
"So that
he
I
Is
The
call it,"
said.
later
It
was the
scientific
name
35
man commented.
bloom along with your own
in April, the spireas will be like brides in June, and
that little Deutzia will be coming on in July.
The
smoke-bush will be all feathery in August, and for
September you have the hydrangeas lasting until
"It
is
"The yellow
bell will
frost."
"But
Little
Joseph
said.
we
I
should
all
Garden."
It
day when
Joseph and
The
about shrubs.
"It
Joseph
is
"An Ambitious
was
in
about flowers.
fortunate that
said, "for,
all
Boy's
word
36
on the
We
my
we
should plant
pencil
paths between
in front
of the house.
more
difficult to
its
curve.
we
concluded to
circle, slightly
tall
follow-
shrubs.
plan.
neither of us
left their
knew
placing to
Timothy.
When
very
difficult
for
him
to leave before
it is
it
is
finished.
this
afternoon was
full
of going to town
At
trellis.
length, I persuaded
37
him
work on
the
to leave that
window we could
trellis.
From
earth.
man busy
the
digging the
When
placed each
settled
them
Into the
soft
earth.
The
planting
38
when
Mr. Bradley and his
men
Joseph had
at
first
seen
if
he ever would
Later
the afternoon
in
He had
the shrubs.
we had
we
we
chosen, and
red-twigged
dogwood
at the
many
At
of
home
there,"
its
Timothy
said,
"for
woods."
meant parents or people like our greatAfterwards he found out from "An Ambitious Boy's Garden" that plants are divided into
great tribes and families.
This interested him extremely, and now he seldom hears of a plant without wondering to what tribe it belongs, what family, and then what kind of a member it is In that
relatives
aunt.
family.
All plants,
lovable any
It
was
it
more than
all
when
He
went
scrubbing
good and
was
and
dressing,
he
appeared
PLATE
V.
HE
SLEPT
WITHOUT ROCKING
39
"The
trellis is built,"
he said while
we were
at
sown
in the
March
window-boxes.
It
is
think
we
are
Almost before Little Joseph had finished speakand long before he was through with his din-
ing,
down
often
CHAPTER
VI
chilly
little
air
March with
its
cold
and winds.
we have none of
up the Six Spruces and help
us say good-bye to winter.
He enjoys seeing them
at Miss Wiseman's and at Nestly Heights, but this
kind of enjoyment is quite different from the pleasure of having them yourself.
In his note-book, he
Little
Joseph
still
regrets that
40
down
we
41
shall
this
morning we had
On
were
all
little
unfolded flowers
Indeed It had
Joseph found none that were pink.
been rather hard to find these flowers In the woods.
They cannot be seen plainly as can the crocuses
and snowdrops and squills. But when they were
at closely they
The unfolded
appeared just as
if
work very
It
methodically.
42
was no
he
regularity in
than
Then he dug
in width.
fifteen holes,
its full
picking
Afterinto the
it
My
their wild
"Even
Joseph
See
how
him that
these leaves
43
unfold."
More
when
pears dead.
We
were both a
little
little
wild flow-
August in order to
establish a permanent colony which would continue
from year to year. Little Joseph hastened to tell
him that he had transplanted them with such large
blocks of earth that they could not have felt being
moved at all. Mr. Hayden himself saw that they
were set in the same kind of soil, and amid the surroundings of their original home.
"Well," Mr. Hayden said, "see how the plan
This is your first year at gardening and
works.
ers should
is
be transplanted
in
Over
at the Heights,
our gardeners are so experienced, and have such cutand-dried rules about everything, that I seldom
venture to pick
it
off a
out of season.
dabbled
home
in
My
son,
note-books."
may do
It
was
tell
down
you more
in twenty
greatly.
44
Mr. Hayden
a very large
is
of speaking reminds
me
man, and
his
way
There appears
never cold.
We
from
college.
He
says that
are
We both know,
Mr. Hayden
quite seriously.
"We
"Our
flowers
come up by themselves."
46
Mr. Hayden
"They may not come around here much of themTimothy replied, "but, when they are
selves,"
more
He
slowly."
was
in truth
Wiseman
through
his interest
have a shrub
in
November.
Timothy planted the witch-hazel at the edge of
the wood, not very far from the dogwood, but more
til
snuggled
In
among
the trees.
trees
46
Mr. Hayden.
where the triangle
"And
Is
that point
wall
separating
Heights
"My
is
the
"And
from
Spruces
Six
so moist
is
the
Nestly
for climbers."
boy
will be one of
Eh!"
Mr. Hayden
home.
his
declare
we
are planting
"We
pride
do."
to Joseph, "but I
no flower
so,
my
his
boy," he said
sister believes
there
is
about
and
Mr. Hayden's
ferns,
son
who knew
in
wondered
wild flowers
climbing the
when
many
47
things
is
to his mate.
The
nest
must be
her wing."
is
now
finished.
Perhaps
snuggling
it
under
CHAPTER
VII
NOW
begun
to plough,
and the neighbours and Timothy have decided that the frost has disappeared, Little Joseph
is making ready to sow the seeds he has bought.
This making ready seems to play a very large part
in gardening.
First of all, with Timothy's help,
This is
he has made what he calls a seed-bed.
his
49
found
it
fine
it
ing there
is
stones.
In the morn-
he would
have been obliged to make it rich through artificial
means.
Before Joseph and I came to live here and have
a garden of our own, we never used the word
manure.
We did not regard it as a polite word.
But we find that all gardeners talk about manure
and the wonderful effect it has in making flowers
grow, quite as freely as they speak of the flowers
themselves.
Arrangements have to be made for
this strip of rich earth at the Six Spruces,
made. This year Miss Wiseman has sent us several wheelbarrows full from her pile back of the
stable.
Mr. Hayden
"You
For that
reason, he
50
rich; but
it
is
Timothy
is
now
the flower-beds.
As
now,
it
it
Even
We
make
We
it
if it
Jo-
little
look as
I
of the
we hope
if
wish
As
come up
and show their colours, I shall know more about
them.
There Is one bed in which I am especially
the flowers
interested.
just
curved.
first
It
quarter.
is
it is
more
51
was
by the Campanile.
concerned,
we
knew
fell,
that,
very few
St.
make
When
the piazza
the tower
fell,
From
her telling us
this
S2
way
it
was
filled level
Even
after
suppose
all
made
PLATE
VI,
soil.
so
sad to feel
should think
A little way in
plants,
we
tall flowers;
made on
are to be
Miss
in
it
poor
flowers.
are to be planted,
bed for
coaxing.
Wiseman talk
would make me
53
and
south veranda.
Already,
be here.
At our
fodils
and
now
in
squills
came
in
March.
Six Spruces.
He
He has
to take time
54.
many
bulbs of
of the wood-border.
With
a stick Joseph
made
He
after a rain.
We
are
much
so generously in bloom.
They
are something of a
spring flowers.
at
having no
Nothing seems
to disturb these
little
wild flowers.
the
woods and
No
gardener
who
if in
the
woods
there
was not
55
a sprite
and who
and open
their petals.
CHAPTER
VIII
out-of-
is
ing in
"An Ambitious
catalogues and
talk,
Then
there
is
what Joseph
many
about.
Not
in
likes to
the
open.
know
just
Little
He
is
tell
is
not
He
tells
me
that
now
56
he understands their
57
Sweet
among
the
annuals.
down
still
to the ground.
if
a friend
long journey.
like the
own
They
wild flowers in
places
and bloom-
When
once they
58
The
ent
ways of growing
differ-
Like
from
bloom
formed and ripened their
Although they must
seeds, they die completely.
be watered and cared for during two seasons, they
bloom but once, after which it is as if they had
the perennials, they do not
never been.
Joseph
Happily, it is now time to sow seeds.
busy putting perennials and some annuals in the
seed-bed.
tle plants,
There they
which
The
perennials that he
He
and
is
sowing to-day
oriental poppies.
bloom
to
is
59
to Little Joseph.
gardening
in
Among
ages,
from
seeds.
Drummondl.
The
phlox, however,
The
is
others will
to stay
first
planted.
flitting across
the front
had gone
to the seed-bed,
replied.
Joseph
still
60
him in great
triumph, showing it to us in the palm of her hand.
Joseph then stopped making the furrows and
It was small and of delicate
looked at the egg.
"I have a bird's egg," she told
it,"
"from
she answered,
full
a little house
of sticks, but I
put
my hand
in
and
it is
emnly, remembering
how
own
"You
sticks.
it."
"Butterflies
said reprovingly,
a chrysalis," Joseph
and then he went on making fur-
PLATE
VII.
HAVE A BIRD
EGG
61
and
furrow by
When
itself.
the seeds.
When
transplanting time
The
this
furrows telling
all
about
came they
to him.
"Nothing," she
It broke,
said,
of course,
it.
"You ought
all,
as
long as he
let
when we
is
it
"How
could you
Queenie asked.
if
steal
them?"
62
one
Then
house to
little girl."
her
how
very wrong
tiful.
It
was of
63
side, resting
in-
It neither
saw
was
quite dead.
it
ful butterfly
Its
Per-
name on
this
the-
hind part
The upper
posterior wings.
ac-
its
no harm
in the
In the autumn,
it
seems to like
the-
purple asters
CHAPTER
IX
greatly.
the
He
took out
first
his
packages of nasturtium
seeds.
64
65
had planted
"They
can
grow here," he
their plants.
me
be easy for
whenever
to step out
choose.
it
will
like
to
see these
bright
ing-room.
There
is
if
They
are
among
the
we
how
66
ground to
The
sowed
we were
know
stranger
let a
expecting later.
He
in several places.
The
in
as far
down.
I felt
pleased that
we were
They
are both
both attractive
that I shall
no
in bouquets.
work hardest
in
They
scent.
are also
it
in
He
mignonette.
it
for edgings to
much
form
mass by
sowed so
it
will
a fine
itself.
theless,
weeks.
"Dear me,"
all
I said, "will
67
he has read
"An Ambitious
how
often
Boy's Garden."
He
all
It
sowed than
He
them.
to push themselves
how
row, no matter
many
places,
bed
not at
is
all
it
was prepared
and
othy,
As
Once
truly
and
when
we
shall
have to
have already
way by Tim-
light.
like cups
in the regular
shall
soil in this
The
the.y
they bloom.
seemed
to
me
But
wait a long time for them to
tissue paper.
bloom.
The
if it
about
it
He
Mrs. Keith
that,
when
a cheese-cloth cover
68
to
make
many
is
if
At
the triangle.
he works
all
dull, like
Jack
the time, I
am
who had no
play.
never be really
likes to
this
dull.
He
is
afraid he will
grow
done.
year to
make
Even
if
With
But then he
ways
is
to give his
more ambitious
He
hears of few
69
In gardening, there
is
him
a great
first
season.
Mr. Hayden
in
would have
up with
flower-beds.
Little Joseph
seeds
last
of the poppy
to-day.
We
ing about
If in
was then
rest,
for he
is
something, he
as
much
as girls.
northeast.
I will
Then he
my man
at the flower
show
this
that he felt as
if
to tell us that he
had punished
70
to remind us that he
who was
lege
"He
is
How
at col-
no mistake.
We
the Spruces?"
pansies.
my
never
feel
my
gar-
out pansies.
ture of all
Once
like a
rose."
I
at
me
very
critically;
but
Lately
pansies,
tiful
my
rose-bed, I
would rather
71
earth.
makes
as
CHAPTER X
FINDING FERNS TO TRANSPLANT
succession now, we have been
days
FORonthree
because
long tramps
woods. This
in
in the
is
Mr.Hayden's son Percy is home for the Easter holidays and seems to find more pleasure walking about
the woods than he does in his father's gardens.
The fact that he was coming shortly is the great
secret Mr. Hayden had up his sleeve.
Joseph and
I call this son "Mr. Percy," for when we say "Mr.
Hayden" we mean the father. He has taken a
great fancy to Little Joseph, but insists that I go
with them on their tramps. He knows a great
deal about ferns and flowers, but not in an important,
book-like \^ay.
about flowers as
if
logue.
warm
in these
PLATE
VIII.
FIDDLEHEADS
73
"Why
Mr. Percy
the moist
in
asked.
and
if
sure to live.
"They
we take
I
have
found the early spring a better time for transplantTheir fronds are not
unfolded now, so there is no danger of their breaking ferns than the autumn.
ing."_
and
had
newspaper, as
a basket
thought
might
The
find
some
trowel proved
making
Mr. Percy
many
years.
grew warm,
the woolly covering of the fiddleheads would turn
a brownish yellow and gradually fall away.
He
showed us also its "heart of Osmond," which is
really the buds for years to come, and lies at the
crown of the brush-like root-stock. This part of
told us that, as the days
much like raw cabBut to gather it, the plant itself would have
to be destroyed, and neither Joseph nor I care
enough about eating raw cabbage to make us do
bage.
74
such a thing.
It
is
Mr. Percy
called fiddleheads.
a brake
the cinnamon-
fern.
it
Osmunda cinnamomea.
do not remember all that Mr. Percy said, because I was so eager to see if he and Joseph would
succeed in getting its large root-stock up from the
ground without hurting the fiddleheads. The curious look that these latter have in the woods I shall
never forget, and, now that we are to plant them in
the garden, I shall be able to watch them unfold
I
He
in
from the
square blocks
from the
When
easier if they
my
which was
Their work
Mr. Percy
it.
It
PLATE
IX.
WINDFLOWERS
75
we see
on grapes.
open out and be
green were then dull red.
Neither of us doubted
that Mr. Percy was right, and that some day this
strange little bunch of sprigs would turn, into our
own beautiful maidenhair fern. It then looked
much less like it than a baby looks like a man.
Joseph thought it very wonderful that Mr. Percy
should be able to tell what all the little sprigs and
The
parts that
little
would
later
were
full
grown.
He
would thrive in our home garden. Their rootwere not as hard to handle as those of the
fiddleheads.
They were more slender and wiry,
and stayed nearer the surface of the earth. Soon
we had five of them in the basket.
"They will make a showing this year," Mr.
also
stocks
Percy
said,
flowers were
now
in full
bloom
in
our
It
is
now
so frail and
walk among them.
They looked
"the season
is
back-
76
was thinking
it
time to go home,
we might
along with
us.
although
its
ket,
"The
we were
when Mr.
and take
There was still room in the basheaviness had increased.
try to find the lady-fern
lady-fern.!" I exclaimed.
"Is
it
one that
many kinds
itself
is
of ferns.
a lady.
The truth
is
In ancient times,
it
was
called
The
bore
could
it
continued,
put some of
pockets.
You would
still
my
hear
shoes, or in
me walking
my
about
who
is
witches.
may be
truly, in the
it
that
days
powers."
"I hope
we
it," I said.
Mr. Percy
open,"
repHed.
if
we keep our
eyes
TTf
Here
now !"
I thought
perhaps
it
less interesting
wool.
because
Its stalks
heads.
us.
will really
become
its
friend."
talking, he was
working steadily to get its large root-stock up from
the ground.
I began to think that ferns had a
much
earth than
flowers.
we
way of
was known
stronger
When
Mr. Percy
say-
Once only
78
Every second
some
insect
bark to get
if,
every
He hopped along
time he pecked, he secured prey.
at a lively pace, appearing not to notice that we
were watching him. What he did at other times
I had no idea, but, unlike the wrens and the robins,
he was not carrying his finds home to a little mate
on the nest. Everything he found, he ate himself.
The
me
not
in a
group
at
the side.
Mr. Percy
said.
daily watering,
"But they
especially if
will
now
require
become dry."
We
felt it
we
PLATE
X.
79
seph replied.
it
was
come
again.
that he did
if
he would
CHAPTER
XI
MY ROSARIUM
nothing about my rose
have
AS yet
intend expending most
den, except that
I
gar-
said
in
of
my
it
my bank
much
as
my
most
money.
girls,
Of
while of
me by
all
may
perhaps,
It
have
in keep-
because
is
love
It
by the
side that
from the
80
MY ROSARIUM
81
Over
desire.
this
An
made
for in this
triangle
plant
own
way
many
do not
rough breezes.
The long and narrow beds, arranged like the
sticks of a fan, have already been prepared by Timothy, in exactly the same way as the other beds were
made. From time to time, however, the roses will
need more fertilising than Joseph's hardy flowers.
Mr. Hayden says they are the most greedy feeders
of all plants, which seems an ugly expression in conI have
nection with roses, although quite true.
noticed that, whenever Miss Wiseman and her
like
gardener,
Mr.
various kinds of
fertilisers.
MY ROSARIUM
82
The
it is
given
me
in the late
dle of April.
planted with so
Still
autumn. Instead of
they were
much
in the
moved and
care that I
mid-
trans-
am hoping
they
it
PLATE
XI.
ROSE FANTASY
MY ROSARIUM
83
am
many hardy
roses
given to me.
Those
all
that
Mr. Hayden
of which, he
acter,
were
said,
red, pink,
Among the red roses were Ulrich BrunMarshall P. Wilder, Prince Camille de Rohan,
pealing.
ner,
Madame
Paul Neyron.
Frau Karl
I thought given it by a very
stupid gardener, although Joseph said it was more
likely the flower received its name from a very
clever individual, since It had become celebrated
In "An Ambitious Boy's Garden,"
for its beauty.
there is not a word about roses, so I suppose Joseph
heard this either at Miss Wiseman's or at Nestly
rose
was
called
Heights.
decided to plant the red roses In the middle
The
beds of the fan, keeping each kind by Itself.
side,
then
came
on
either
the
beds
white were In
I
MY ROSARIUM
84
Near where
were
left for
they
all
on each
pink roses.
taper
down
into a semi-
Now
many
had consulted
one of Joseph's catalogues, or a book on roses, I
might have found out more about their particular
shades, and then have planted them accordingly.
But it happened that the roses came late in the
afternoon, while Timothy was at the Six Spruces,
and the best thing to do was to get them planted
as soon as possible.
They had not a very inspiring
look. Evidently, they had been clipped back by the
gardener at Nestly Heights, and, not having begun
to send out their new leaves, were just sticks and
Perhaps
if I
thorns.
Still, it
was
many
little
and to
feel that
it
was indeed
my own
rosa-
MY ROSARIUM
As
rlum.
them
86
carefully
and learn
all
the particular
little
points which
may grow
too high,
some
may make
They be-
all
of
my
twenty-five dollars.
But
plants.
in
will give
me
MY ROSARIUM
86
more
otherwise expended.
The
rose
is
it
so romantic.
has had
petals
its
and
has been
worn near
fatherland
of Asia.
is
the
of queens.
hearts
Its
At
first
who
a grace
There
is
air,
such
as if
high.
queens.
Queenie Perth.
It
my
usually he is so grave,
and spends his time working in the garden.
But
he likes Queenie, although he knows she is spoiled
and often naughty. She can make him quite forget
playing with a
little girl, as
his seriousness
when she
herself
is
in
one of her
funny moods.
I see
Joseph
of the house.
now
No
it
is
clothes.
MY ROSARIUM
not come on by the
circle.
He
87
has crossed over
CHAPTER
XII
DURING
planting-time
this
neglected to provide
decorations
needed attention.
With
all
the exception
of
the
There
are,
morning-glory,
the
moonflower,
Japanese
He
from
his
list,
plants that
know
is
pretty well
making
how
his
89
garden of
to take care of
He wishes them, as I have alreadybe like the wild flowers in the woods, which
return each year in definite seasons.
themselves.
said, to
It
many
so
Joseph planted
therefore, will
Mr. Percy
it
flowers.
Virginia creepers,
Afterwards,
Joseph had
was
Mr.
it
him
that,
We
were discussing
vines,
this point
of difference be-
surprised
90
us by saying
know
"I
never poison
me
its
name.
We
or Rosamond.
It
can
In some ways
doll.
Queenie
is
What
leaflets
my
As
have never
the country without being
mind.
in
yet, I
severely poisoned.
As our
vines
may
they
twine
These,
skyward.
which
he
think,
idea seems
attractive
to
me
also,
as
is
garden when
set out are
all
in
The
the stupid
But
our imagined
we have
grown.
quite as
He
much about
vines as
was delighted to
see
had been
Perhaps
circular, square or
it is
he thought, than
if it
know
we
until
He
of a fan.
him that
told
it
"Why,
sent me a
then said:
was
in the
The
fan
is
shape
yes, to
be sure."
little
fan from
They
91
my
ance.
mer,
when he
it
to college.
is
over, for
When
he
sum-
He
never speaks as
Aunt Amanda. We
make the old house look
his
are sure
he wishes us to
as if it
peeped up among flowers. He is not content
that we should have a garden only about the triangle.
He wishes us to make wide borders across
the front and along the sides of the house and to
plant them mostly with scarlet geraniums.
As the
house is painted buff, he would especially like the
effect of these flowers against it.
Perhaps we shall
try to carry out his wishes next year; but already
we have planned
to
the planting
is
completed.
all
over
92
beetles
be overcome, and
tO'
We
insects
after
is
all,
such disagreeable
manure
piles
must be
encouraged.
the
is
me
air,
its
perches himself
song that
and
cannot imitate.
on a
bit
head high
spirited song.
of
in
It
it
over
nest in the old pine tree near the moist point of the
triangle, never
93
squeaky voices.
many grubs
so far,
little
whispers to
to be seen, for
Were
been done.
us,
it
all
the
work
that has
Hope
dampen
the spirits.
When
Little
and
this
Joseph
see
what
discouragement
It is
is
falls
blossoming there
of wild flowers.
upon me,
I tell
Somehow,
In
Nature's world
sown
94
and watered are as real as those that come up without any assistance from man.
In our woods, the leaves are
The
now
well unfolded.
flowers.
bloodroots
They grow
in a secluded,
deep part of
the
in its dress
of
it
likes the
shade
so well.
As soon as its seeds were sown, we determined to have Timothy take it up in large blocks
and transplant it for us, just behind the hepaticas
PLATE
XIII.
WILD
GINGER
95
holds
Its
little
opportunity
Heights.
him do whatever he wished In our woodIn fact, we grew quite used to his help,
and now miss him sadly since he has gone away.
In the rose garden, however, I shall manage things
There not even Little
quite after my own mind.
to let
border.
Joseph
Is
CHAPTER XIII
JOSEPH COMPLETES THE PLANTING OF THE
GARDEN
NOW
that
May
I recall
made an
effort to
be quite finished.
He
flowers.
Here
Is
When
the former
seeds, their
work
Mother Nature
is
allows
97
them then
to rest snugly.
But gardeners have
learned to sow and resow the seeds of cultivated
flowers, that they may not pass out of sight with
their natural season of blooming.
Joseph hears that there are little tricks of nipping off flowers before they form seeds, and, by so
doing, keeping the plants blooming longer than
their natural season, for, above
to
make
The
seeds.
loved by people
is
all,
a plant desires
flower which
really only a
more important seeds, which then the plant consow in order that its existence may be continued from year to year.
It seems a little melancholy to me to keep the plants longing to make and
sow their seed until, perhaps, they are caught by the
the
trives to
complished.
Still,
early ceased to
it is
gardeners
now who
Joseph
finds
at times
he
may
less.
The most
important perennials
that
Joseph
he has planted.
He
98
he thought
vantage.
starts a
It
was hkely
who
The
exposure.
light in shade;
When
planting,
the
little
when he
set
them
in the soil.
It
is
we have no
this season.
very beautiful.
Still,
my
favour-
ites.
used
when they
PLATE
XIV.
99
years, but
had grown
Over
at
I wish ours to be
bed by themselves, not far from the wall,
near the point of the triangle.
This year, how-
ever,
we
will use
it
when
kept by themselves.
in the
same border
when
I put
different
I do,
Near them,
air.
flowers
grown.
At
neighbours.
we
will give in
Mr. Hayden
and, perhaps, a
little
thinks
bloom
that
least,
we
If
intend
it
then
we are
very bold,
us, as
he
his'
says, in the
100
seen before.
make
a great
as
quietly again.
appear
less
On all
The
is satisfied,
next time
we
they settle
visit
down
them, they
frightened.
we have heard
no garden should
bought
three dozen plants before he knew that others were
sides
be without phloxes.
to be given him.
that
Joseph,
They
therefore,
years
into
we
PLATE XV.
fact,
much
101
cultivated of
have them
In
As
except yellow.
The
phlox.
is
I rather think
we
shall
As
I look at
them
set here
and prim
lit-
tle
stalks
stiff
make up
for this
were more
definite.
Our
I
especially love
these
flowers.
Joseph bought
planted them In
tiful green.
The
rue
102
the
fems
to the moist
point.
I
to
I
cannot
greatest favourites,
The
the
first
irises.
varieties, since
We
Joseph
They
many
and
in
but
irises
soil.
Is
ering.
that he
to
PLATE
XVI.
MOTHS away"
minded of
The
that
been,
103
re-
meadow.
flags.
make
gnome
will find
hocks.
so high,
and are so
from
viv-
be looked at
a distance.
Then
anthemums
little
These are
The number
I
is wonderful to me.
back must ache.
But, in spite of all
the work that he has done, I have thought of other
Heliotrope is one
flowers for which I am pining.
of them but as yet I have said nothing about it to
set out
Little Joseph.
CHAPTER
XIV,
MAY TIME
I have done
have been meditating and watching things grow. Besides, we have
seen a great deal of our neighbours and their gar-
FOR
little
in
and
We
the garden.
dens.
May
The
in the
country
is
me
Indeed,
it is
not at
all difficult
104
it
next year
It
not only
itself
abun-
to grow.
^^^
MAY TIME
We
105
Drummondi,
it
The
sowed
in the seed-bed.
raised,
in
Yet
plants that
we have
comparison to
am
glad our
we have
developed
Already
Wiseman
think Miss
is
do not
about
little
In
fact,
plant
it
in
many
yellow phlox
Drummondi
Mr. Percy
was
telling
has been
him how
bands of ribbon.
home
little
MAY TIME
106
come
in that
Mr.
Percy.
colour.
"Then have
"Even now, it
quaker-ladies,"
is
said
them."
He
live,"
"If
we
did
it
when
swered.
Later
in the day,
Timothy and
moved
all
we
necessary implements.
the quaker-ladies
of earth.
in
long,
We
then
narrow blocks
down, and
nothing at
all
Fortunately,
knew
we
set
the
blocks
of quaker-
ladies,
MAY TIME
107
we
meadow
before
the border.
Next
border.
Joseph and
work
This season
I felt that
to secure a
slightly
is
we had done
backward.
good day's
"It
is
a border," Joseph
Heights."
He
One day he
told us some-
vanished from
live,
because
it
was
MAY TIME
108
Wild
flowers,"
Mr. Percy
eager to grow."
He
soil,
from that
had transplanted
quite different
He
a lord
as the green-striped
pulpit.
Before
this
spring,
had never
realised
how
exquisitely lovely
also narcissi.
PLATE
XVIII.
THE
MAY TIME
of tHese bulbs are
all
now
109
jotted
down
in Joseph's
when
It
Among
the
little
The
come neat-looking
little
soil
now
be-
plants,
In the catalogue
we
read that
its
would be
would be nearly
flowers
The
now
We
expect these
The
we
shall be
satisfied
white
feel
sure
The
bloom
As
their
they
enough
name implies,
a long time.
now
to transplant.
It has
MAY TIME
110
In fact, I think he
cares more for these plants than for any others
He feels they are more his own,
in the garden.
since he has taken care of them so long and watched
also fun for Little Joseph.
more
"An Am-
Garden."
have no Weigelia shrubs at the Six Spruces
nearly all the other places about, the pink
bitious Boy's
We
but at
varieties
appearing like
Heights
At
is
new
all
Nestly
place.
dogwood
is
is
and
proud of
felt
the country.
^^h.^^
PLATE XIX.
PINK DOGWOOD
MAY TIME
in the
way
111
before a squall
"Now
know where
me
am.
feel
The
scent of those
brocade.
windows
carpet?"
I answered that the carpet was already faded,
and that we liked the air and sunshine.
were
was perhaps
it
number of
poor
a sign of
housekeeping.
He
lent.
changes
I
lin;
we had made
for this
is
it
of which
was
excel-
still
asked him
in tea,
if
better
swered
in this
Mr. Hayden
an-
house on Sunday!"
as he does
on Sunday
after-
MAY TIME
11^
noons,
mood
of the day.
He
way of
He
it.
loved flowers.
much
as he
CHAPTER XV
ABOUT WILD AND CULTIVATED FLOWERS
ONE
is
that
when once
The
cultivated flowers
visits
know them
well.
considerably longer
veloped.
still
make
in
Our
irises,
that
bloom, looking
is,
the
finer every
German
ones, are
much resemble
are
now
quite faded.
the triangle.
are
making
seeds,
"3
There
is
114
inside
double white one tinged with pink, lilce the
of a shell; another is blue, with a paler, almost
they are
so pretty.
all
word
Hybridization, a long
become vigorous
plants, standing
ducing so
up straight to
No
doubt, in pro-
colours of columbines,
gardeners have thought that they were greatly outstripping those that dwell in the woods.
recall the
ding from
Still,
it
its
its
cultivated varieties.
as
It
as I
would not be
But
showy
in a
it
best of
all.
garden as the
shady
it
and
may
Queenie
Mr. Percy
opened their
looked as
if
calls
when
to
Joseph and
me
they
He
PLATE XX.
COLUMBINES
113
blooms
in the
bine.
Its stalk
out from
is
it
woods
is
same time
It
as the colum-
on either
a great, pointed
at the
coming
The
fine,
stalk of false
little,
instead
of standing up straight.
We have planted
slightly, so that it
it
now
It will,
116
horrid ways.
and grad-
my
me by
little
green crawlers
the leaves.
in
soap.
we have
army
The
at bay.
Timothy gave
month with a kero-
spraying that
fifteenth of this
may prove
117
that
all.
But now I
have quite ceased to fear them, and do not in the
least mind their buzzing around me.
Now I can,
without screaming, let a bee or a wasp walk over
my
it
at
bare hand.
we were
It
I
was
standing
in
full
stooped to find
my hand
in
under
They soon
and shoulders
as well,
artificial ones,
for the
my
hands
more hospitable
It
is
They
are lemon
At
118
many of
Nestly Heights,
Nothing, I think,
more
could be
now
effective,
When
In
fact,
Joseph has
his
The
mountain-laurel,
small
the
we
azalea
laurel
shall
called
probably
set in or
Percy
tells
us that
we
can get
many
of these plants
to.
The
is
dron,
Mr. Percy
thinks, could
itself at
it
has at Nestly
is
The
natives call
botanical
name
Is
it
Is
azalea lutea.
'A botanist
its
named
tain sides
haunt
is
it,"
it
appeared as
119
the moun-
if
that
He
many
that
great
him many
later asked
Bartram.
men had
set
he w&re
as if
He
tell-
ques-
knew
find new
said he
out to
explorations
after
rare
flowers.
their
glossy,
evergreen
As
leaves.
winter
ap-
The
home
for
we must pay
all
the year.
Six Spruces
Therefore,
I tell
the winter.
If
do not
Happily,
we
is
him,
the
could keep
it
would
120
Then
in
is
like
there
little
patches of
it
slowly
we must
As well
to their leaves.
in
the
as I can
remember,
we
There
is,
it
is difficult
of,
May.
Many
of the
The
white
All over the country now, the leaves are fully unfolded, having lost the delicate, crinkled look they
had
in late April.
We
The
foliage
is
To me
121
now
this
is
their
CHAPTER XVI
THE LAST MAY DAYS
THERE
it
and
it
is
I especially
seems as
if
we
time
is
The
in the sunshine.
this
when
is
We
for us as they
if
clearly than
more
Then
we have
tried to
make
in
another garden.
grapple with them anApple blossoms and the pink dogwood of the wood-border have begun to drop their
petals, and in many ways we are reminded that
other year.
May.
we have been most
In one thing
season
things.
has been
exceptionally
fortunate.
fine
The
for growing
the comfort of
human
beings
but this
Is
something
Even
the
PLATE XXI.
'
123
before.
Mr. Hayden
to seed,"
tells us.
lion
is
women do who
When we
lU
a habit different
remain fresh
in the
Now,
have found out that while pointed blueeyed grass closes its petals with the first shock of
being picked and placed in water, it is likely to open
however,
now
in full
bloom, while
As
their buds.
not opened.
wise
in
wonder
if
Joseph and
are quite
planting.
The
If they
columbines.
far,
In the
Is
wind.
The
grass
it
is
May
the
kept so
has lost
its
PLATE XXII.
POINTED
BLUE-EYED GRASS
125
coarse,
it is
we
So
but
cling like
crescent bed.
that
still
right in thinking
far,
little
and that
it
The
This
is
one of the
expectations.
After they
Finally,
He planted them
fifty seedlings.
wherever he chose
It will be
about
weedy look
grass.
as they
Still,
lift
They have
126
As Joseph says, in
always something for which one
garden there
is
must wait.
We have planned to have quantities of forgetIn the wildme-nots near the cardinal-flowers.
flower world, these two always bloom at the same
time,
and seem to
swampy
places.
like
being together,
We
it
in moist,
will be
even
we have
their
taste.
neighbours
are
rain,
and
drought.
Should one really come, the work of
gardening will be more arduous, since considerable
having
in the
give the
irises,
We
are fortunate
ready to
make
their seeds.
fact that
127
make me
in
way
partial to them.
leaf-mould stirred
Over
is
A
all
Nestly Heights, Joseph and I have nono attention is paid to wild-flower gardening, and very little even to hardy garden flowers.
The gardeners there like what they call
bedding-out plants, interspersed with palms and
ferns which have a sub-tropical air, and which have
at
ticed that
cyclamen.
chickens.
Whenever
it
The
a gardener and another was set in its place.
And
supply of them seemed to be inexhaustible.
truly they were planted in a way to give the grounds
a royal appearance.
Gladioli, cannas
and
many
gardens.
of them.
We
now
in
have none
128
few
gladioli, for In
garden
loveliest of
flowers.
fact, it
Is
a great
The
disappointment to me not to have them.
cannas are very decorative, especially about a formal place like Nestly Heights. But it is their
great leaves that I like to see waving with the
breezes.
instance of
new
bad
taste.
Over
and the
have more rivalry
their dahlias
When Mr.
Hayden urged
cannas and
us to plant dahlias,
grow more
like
Ben
and Harry.
Little
Joseph
is
very thoughtful.
Mrs. Keith
it Is
129
because of
ever,
When Timothy
prepared the
soil for
the flower-
highly spiced.
They may be
useful
now
I shall be struggling to
CHAPTER XVII
THE OPENING DAY FOR ROSES
TO-DAY
The
Is
here.
calendar
Behind us
flowers.
happily can
There, at
its
is
heat,
the
least, I
artificially.
the season.
The
Wilder.
They
and Marshall P.
are in advance of
many
others
bloom
flowers.
is
It
is
pure white,
131
The
more rounded
the number
is
From
are about
alsoi
The
catalogues de-
Little
becoming
It is faint pink,
a trifle
or pinkish
among
It will
its
white-
ness
all
perhaps
those of stronger
is
own patch
of colour.
The
Wilder.
is
Is
Marshall P.
What
It Is
pleases
car-
me
132
foliage
is
named
after
Mr. Wilder.
small, I heard
stories.
is
the charm
this rose
was
But there
it
tell
some funny
Mr.
PLATE XXIII.
JUNE ROSES
133
much
At the
target-shooting,
every time.
who
therefore
if
he could not
ing of
it
Then
would be
He
is
There is,
the mak-
a nuisance.
my mind
that
my doubts
were
set at rest
by
in his
note-book
vital
134.
they do not
know
and
perennial flowers.
Little Joseph's
garden
one of which a
is
way
man
do things well
Wiseman
Miss
awakened.
when his interest is
is
an owner
says he is a born gardener; and, as he
of the Six Spruces, nothing could be wiser for him
The fame
than to make the old place attractive.
of his work has begun to spread around the neighbourhood. Several people have asked if they might
might be proud.
It
is
his
him.
He
nor keep
The
it
feels
it,
oriental poppies
nursery are
to
triangle.
says,
perhaps be-
flowers.
we have
135
little fairy,
who
poppies reflected by
water.
would be upheld
of deep
in dreams.
I continue to
mar-
Joseph
He
is
prouder of
on him.
He
is
made
Their
a great impres-
136
ting
him know
that I
am
flaunting beauties.
Nearly
tered
all
among
bitious
am
sure,
not popular.
show them
In
Boy's
mine
scat-
"An Am-
"Great Wonders."
With May,
the
new
flowers.
The German
irises
One clump
of these irises
indeed
is
are
ex-
now showing
yellow blooms.
to
come
splreas.
given,
transplanting
the
The name
slightly.
137
commonly
bridal-wreath,
is
Van
since
species
are
often
many
cultivated.
names, gardeners
tell us,
Houttei.
It
is,
names of
of the same
and fanciful
scientific
varieties
Common
standing.
Joseph and
I,
The
rapid grower."
last phrase,
we
notice,
is
an
especial favourite.
While
opening.
am
more roses
go and sit on the
writing,
I shall
move
in
rustic seat
and
may
fresh
be a
worm.
If so, I
CHAPTER XVIII
THE COMEDY OF THE GARDEN
THERE
is
a strange,
little
No
comedy going on
at
bells
knew
starling.
that a pair of
Amanda's yellow
bell shrubs.
It
was
Aunt
a small, del-
Further than
this
we knew
we
when
tiny birds
would
Finally the
What we
was that
star-
and that one had played this mean trick on the chipThey, poor things, were brooding over and
pies.
38
no way
young bird
to
139
in
related.
Now
own
children
as the intruder's
From morning
enormous.
appe-
Its
until evening
Poor
things
little
of
it
all is
queer
its
ways.
pears to
it
stout
chippies do whatever
it
pleases.
of
its
appetite.
feeding
it
at the
same
time.
What
can be their
own
nest?
young
From
forgetting forever
its
chippy foster-parents.
I think
it is
more
a tragedy than a
comedy.
The
which they were never meant to bear and the starling, if it knew the truth, would surely be ashamed
that its mother did not build her own nest, and
;
140
Even
if
she
had wished
to
her egg
in
Mother Chippy.
For
a bird of
good
size,
little
the task
Here now
is
Joseph wishing to
tell
me
that the
We
observed that,
he flew, to return
in
So
these birds
more than
its
own
weight.
or
If
The
robin's nest
is
not a tidy
little
house, care-
14.1
made
rows.
It
mud.
How
is
clever
knew undoubtedly
The
robins
hairs
his
tail.
So
bit
far, I
and of a texture so
transparent.
am
we
difficult
have
142
dread
greater
They
of
are
this
is
One garden
pecially.
It
Is
in
dislike es-
14.3
to be seen.
Now, wherever
another
from our neighbours
been
Whenever we
we
pleased that
me
and
I are
would
It
We
consumes
144
But
ferns, alas
have
which would
Be-
as I
each morning
The form
of the fan
fill
said
is
Naturally,
I.
year
If it
month
to
Among
Is
over.
Thus
far, just
or golden sun.
The
outer petals
It
The buds on
do hope
gardener
It
Is
tells
him that
these
Is
Is
like the
this
bush
wilted.
Mr. Hayden's
roses
PLATE XXIV.
THE sickle"
easiest of all to
I shall pet
and
may
As
like.
So
successfully.
145
suppose
others,
I told
I feel
sure I can
make
Neil, I think
The
it
is
This year.
month
is
attractive to
am
yellow roses.
me; and
do not
glad
to develop as a
that,
all
The
the prettiest of
when
major
pest.
had
its
They seem
little
usual chance
to think
and vigorous,
is
it
my
roses well.
146
CHAPTER XIX
A DAY OF PLAY
the
the candytuft?
Percy was
in
Indeed,
we
felt that
to-day
Mr.
A DAY OF PLAY
14.8
the roses.
if
the butterfly
were after
had given her
I
would have used her net, without thinking of the harm she might do to the roses.
Joseph was the one who caught her, and dragged
a chance, Queenie
humming-bird.
Queenie was annoyed at being captured herself
as a
"I will break the roses while you are asleep," she
said to Joseph.
He
man"
butterflies,
At
once she
when
they
twirl-
A DAY OF PLAY
149
length sat
down on
When Mr.
fan.
Percy
is
away,
think of
much
he
and
when
me
if I
ever
felt lonely at
I answered,
"No, because
Then we
am
always too
still
for a long
sat
little red squirrel came to the edge of the woodborder and nibbled at something he held in his paw.
Joseph fell down while chasing Queenie, and she promptly sat on him the two
fledgling
by
its side.
A DAY OP PLAY
150
It was
note out of his pocket and gave it to me.
from his mother, asking us there the coming Sat-
mother has of getting the people together. I believe it is to be a garden party, or something of the
sort."
I said I
would
tell
Joseph.
Mr. Percy
remained
away, he
continued, adding that, if we
would think we would do less for him than for his
"You must
father.
I
I told
how
it
Usually he
is
quiet,
and a
little
much
grave.
He
this
thought.
before.
seemed
we had
When
at
more
a great
many
He asked
we
was surprised
A DAY OF PLAY
151
we had had no
that, at
garden.
"Then
said.
have
to look out, or
you
will
Wiseman
will
of the three."
I
As
far as I know,
all
little
knew
the trick
own way
Tim-
in all that
he did at the Six Spruces. Then, as I was beginning to tell him some of the many things that came
tumbling into my head, we heard loud shrieks from
Queenie Perth. We ran to the moist point of the
triangle and found that, in her eagerness to catch
a butterfly which had alighted on one of the irises,
she had fallen into a soft, spongy place where her
During the
shoes had become covered with mud.
night a slight rain had fallen and the place was
A DAY OF PLAY
152
cap.
It
real lace
and a velvet
bow.
"I thought for once you four children were having a good play instead of worrying about weeds
said.
Mr.
Percy.
It
seemed
too bad for him to hear his father called the wind,
and himself a
child.
said.
ute,
and there
We
tice
is
Percy
all."
Queenie on
sat
on the way.
his shoulder,
Mr.
running with
"Do
is
nothing
We
circle
answered.
The
mean
else.
June
is
the
month
for strawberries as
well as roses.
A DAY OF PLAY
163
Besides,
it
Mr.
Amanda,
"But," she
Percy.
Joseph and
We
every time.
call us
it
soon again,
for strawberry-shortcake
tO'
man-
we
of
our wisdom.
Keith,
do
we know,
however, she
rose bush
is
is
in
Mrs.
bloom,
we have
memory.
now
Usually,
for anything.
Mr.
shortcake.
"My
A DAY OF PLAY
1541
"They
are flowers
had about
grown up,"
who
said Queenle,
made
us
all
Before
we had
quite finished,
that
Mr. Hayden
burst
He
is
way
laugh.
bloom.
now
it.
The
trees
appeared to wave
had come.
He said that the shortcake was better than any
he had had at Nestly Heights, which so pleased
Mrs. Keith she cut him another slice.
"Been talking to my boy about roses or walla little
that he
"Then
he
said,
this shortcake."
PLATE XXV.
THE LONG
WREATH
IS
IN bloom"
CHAPTER XX
THE GARDEN
A GOOD
GIVES ITS
had attended
plenteously.
have been
REWARD
to,
is
now
Since the
summer
beginning
first
tO'
reward him
a delight to us both.
They
are bloom-
Every day
pick enough to
fill
several
to give away.
It
seems a
little
strange that
we
GARDEN GIVES
156
so
ITS
REWARD
all,
much
is
still
on them,
he picks a large bunch to carry over to Miss Wiseman. Some mornings this bunch is all white; on
other days, it is solidly pink, green, or perhaps pur-
On
ple.
is
now
and
July,
which
invites a
day,
the
number of people
and she
the table.
to dine
likes to
Perhaps
Fourth.
on which he put
March. We are thus hoping to have them
with us for some time to come.
Joseph and I are glad we bought larkspurs
(delphiniums) and planted them among the fernside of the trellis, opposite to that
them
in
like
meadow-rues.
more than
They
effect that
realised.
As
are
we
now beginning
anticipated
is
to
being
sea.
This
PLATE XXVI.
GARDEN GIVES
ITS
REWARD
157
When
angle.
and
him very
he
is
far
in the
tri-
Our
feet,
We
should
I
way
we
in
think I
what country
conditions.
They have
like the
larks' feet.
and
country
They
are called
all.
GARDEN GIVES
158
ITS
REWARD
ing
when
suddenly, as
if
from under
He
his foot, a
anything,
meadow-
stooped at once to
home and
eggs.
before he located
ing over
GARDEN GIVES
have borne
flowers,
we must
must
present blooms
happens with
159
cut
REWARD
ITS
all flowers, it
The
pretty.
that this
is
them
I
He
sow
in the
seed-bed.
with larkspur
in the spring.
At
from going
seeds.
first,
to seed
the
seemed
strange to me, as I had thought that the very object of a plant's existence
was to make
seed.
When
know
it
quite well,
and so keep on
try-
new
flowers.
In every
way
rnust
we
They
abundant flowers.
We
our plants.
As
yet,
notice,
nevertheless,
GARDEN GIVES
160
Wiseman
REWARD
a hindrance to a
delights in
kills
ITS
little
worm
white
chewing their
roots.
the plants.
gardening
in
is
that a
Not
far
know
lilies
at
in
Miss Wiseman's,
bloom.
lilies.
Mr. Bradley
riety as lilium
I think
he does
name
do not
other than
no one
will
make
a mis-
lily
PLATE XXVII.
PHLOX
DRUMMONDI
GARDEN GIVES
am
ITS
REWARD
161
As
it
seems as
if
The
well grown.
is
its
rain,
yet, this
The
the phlox
to seed
twilight,
when
upon
GARDEN GIVES
162
ITS
REWARD
its
to the mountains.
At Nestly Heights
there are
We
Mr. Percy and
have missed the visits of Mr. Hayden very much,
now
as
left
his mother.
only
for us.
But
we
moods.
mountains,
Joseph grew fond of them. He found that, although they neither understand nor love flowers,
They
they are extremely wise about catching fish.
know every good stream near Nestly, the names of
the different
fish,
Little
They now
CHAPTER XXI
THE DROUGHT
The
clouds
Its
rains,
but
"The drought
that
it
looks as
the earth.
told us.
"The drought
ticed about
many
drink of rain-water.
Of course, every evening at twilight Joseph or
163
THE DROUGHT
164
Timothy
triangle, and takes buckets of water on a wheelbarrow to the beds farther away. Otherwise,
many of our plants must already have died. It is
even necessary to water the grass, to keep the little
blades from turning yellow.
I
well watered,
The
Clios are
cate pink
when
they
first
opened.
Now, however,
who
am
by
Joseph thinks
the fiery
sun; but
Mr.
sure
while pansies,
I
am
I think,
almost sorry
many
Clio roses
Now, when
difficult
to notice too
jroses.
little
the
more
beautiful
monthly
THE DROUGHT
165
we
year, although
them well
We
severe drought."
We
Mr. Hayden
we
says, a
artificial
water-
it is
THE DROUGHT
166
what we
shall
have to water
the twilight.
When
we have
learned not
and then to
divided
have
we
Instead,
next.
move on to the
In
water
we
our garden Into three sections, which
to
We try
turn, giving each a thorough soaking.
have the water get way down into the earth, about
the plants' roots, as it Is then likely to keep them
them
to give
"Now,
drought.
Keep your plants alive this year,
and next season they themselves will be able to help
this
you."
I like the
them.
home
now
in the garden,
we
Some
It gives
THE DROUGHT
this year.
plants
with
a
167
Still,
had taken
us.
few flowers
as if
we had
more abundantly.
Joseph and I have the same
Spruces
that
Heights.
This
It
has
about
Is
have
Mr. Hayden
it
Mr. Hayden
Nestly
appear as
says, to
itself.
Joseph and
I are
plants well
stirred
and
loose.
soil
about our
Usually,
Joseph
where he cannot
trowel or a little pick, and
would.
Lately I have almost lived In
frocks, there having been so
garden.
down and
Sometimes
its
were a plant.
It Is
heat burns
much
very hot.
me
as
my
to
blue-jean
do
in the
much almost
as if I
THE DROUGHT
168
Although ferns
than
many other
more
and
and lookthemselves
up
still
holding
plants ours are
we
however,
Unless we have rain soon,
ing well.
must water them more freely. This will be some^
what awkward, as they are in the part of the garof the triangle
irises feel
is
naturally moist.
the drought
down
the
is
a long drought.
how
mention
It
and white.
We
We
do not know
in their presence.
each year, to
out,
But,
when
THE DROUGHT
all is
as well in a
Our
169
new garden
as in
one centuries
old.
at Nestly Heights.
For this reason I like annuals.
Those that we have planted this year have bloomed
it is
The
first
bloom
at
all.
them.
Our
made
we
are told;
Every season we
This much
is
will plant
decided.
ten-weeks
stocks.
At
stalks erect.
twilight,
they wished to
let
us
know
It
seems as
if
in a
moment
of inspiration
Fortunately, he set
THE DROUGHT
170
up
in just this
lovely.
We
the house.
I
am
also giving
away
a great
many nasturtiums.
PLATE
X.XVIII.
NASTURTIUMS
CHAPTER XXII
OUR PHLOXES AND HELIOTROPE
IT
Still
me
seems curious to
den and
who
that there
is
who owns
really loves to
room
work
in
is
a large garit.
I notice
is
nor the
in gardening,
when working
so close to the
soil.
Of
course,
it is
and to enjoy
themselves in the open.
Still, they cannot do these
things every hour of the long summer.
In the
time they waste they might almost make and tend
a small garden.
It is true that few boys of Joseph's age have as large a place as the Six Spruces
to roam over; but, even so, I do not think they
take advantage of the ground they have at hand.
Girls also are very slow at making gardens, and
right for boys to play ball
this astonishes
among
boys.
me more
and
many
Nature
tennis,
who work
171
in
our
own
gardens.
172
Queenie's garden
sarium.
It
is
mean any
She says
it
hurts them.
own
garden.
sow
its
seeds,
it
It
To
on our
the
appearing even
is
This, I think,
because they
She told Little Joseph that she loved the sweetall, because one day
she saw three yellow butterflies visiting them at the
same time. She never misses seeing a pretty butterfly, and I have also watched her playing with
Our
phloxes
and
eyes
when
173
Mr. Percy
He
tells
is
us that
we
first
off their
bloom.
At
heads
presr
it
soms.
While
girls
it
is
and boys
in this
We
174
if
our Aunt
Amanda
returned, she
bushes.
at night
know
in
when
175
We
to the
The most
night
is
unknown
to
me.
a screech-owl, to be
near dawn.
Lately Mr. Percy told us that,
although these birds make such a melancholy noise
at night, they should be welcome because they eat
until
voured by cutworms.
These hateful cutworms come out at night.
In
away.
and
me
It
would be
to try to pick
screech-owl
when they
knows
their ways,
and
The
In the night,
all to
the benefit of
our heliotrope.
wonder
if I
176
The
this
bed was
bed of
flowers.
to heliotrope, a
at
among
is
other plants.
No one,
there-
PLATE XXIX.
COSMOS
is
To us
the sky
still
177
trees.
how
much each spray has grown this year. However,
we think little of evergreens in mid-summer. Only
when winter comes, and they are still green, do we
It
is
we
can
tell
The cosmos
that Joseph
sowed
in the seed-bed
long bed
in front
lustily.
The
of the wall,
is
now blooming
quite
white.
his
among
seen but
little.'
is
that
bloom
in the field.
soil
where
178
soil
for flowers
flowers.
may
is
There are
But in our
garden, plants must be very sharp to get ahead of
Little Joseph when he wishes to interrupt this good
be scattered over the ground.
intention.
I often feel sorry for them.
Surely, they must
be discouraged when flower after flower is cut off
that Joseph
CHAPTER XXIII
THE END OF THE DROUGHT
may overwhelm
This morning it
If it continues long
is
it
Joseph
and I can only stand by the window and watch as it
descends violently on our flowers.
Besides being
drenched, the cosmos are being tossed about until
Joseph wonders if their stakes will hold firmly in
the ground; the nasturtiums have wisely tucked
their flowers under their leaves, so that few of them
are in sight.
The
have a limp, retreating look. I scarcely have ventured to look towards the rose fan.
But the
phloxes are standing the storm remarkably well.
They seem to say: "Come on, good rain, we have
been without you long enough not to criticise your
roughness now that you have come."
It is not only that the rain is falling heavily this
morning, but the wind is howling over the garden
Even our house
as I have never heard it before.
trembles
now and
then in response to
179
its
batterings.
180
It
many
we
hear crack
crack
It is
One
curious thing
is
the
way
The
dull.
"Will
it
last
I answer, "I
is
The
bird-houses
do
not think they are inside.
Probably they have
hidden themselves somewhere under the leaves of
are swinging from the trees as never before, so I
the trees.
"The
We
left the
says,
window
home
in
our
181
"It
is
too
am
makes my head
band were drawn about it.
me, but
"If
it
is
afraid of
its
striking
though
a tight
Joseph
it
feel as
said,
"It
is
dark
indeed more
closet.
me how
said.
told
it
evening.
once try to do
it,
you
will
to photograph
am
sure, if
yoo
never be afraid of
it
again."
"It
has
struck
near-by,"
Mrs.
Keith
called
the lightning.
window
!"
to look
out.
182
tiny
We
came
The wind
if,
also calmed
having had
its
mad
it
lightly, as
was ready to
assist
But the striking of one of our spruces had so deme that we found it hard
as beautiful as before."
finished speaking,
He
we
lawn to the
183
At
deep
book.
in his
The
still
first
my
eyes
were the
They were
Instead,
ever.
It
the sun.
at
water were
still
the whole
Great drops of
ers.
It
seems as
if
these
California
poppies had
it
in plenty.
he has need
of,
him by resowing
He
will gather
from them
all
assist
184.
will
From
come
them
up.
down
pies, as I think
At
his disappointment
first
It
useless to cut
wilted at once.
seemed
They
learned from
Miss Wiseman
two
We
days.
we do when
picking helio-
trope,
arrange them
soaked.
After that
We pick
in tall vases.
PLATE XXX.
When
In
185
now growing
some of the
fin-
In gardening, I
in the seed-bed.
others.
about
gale
my
rosarium.
splendidly.
And
considerably flattened,
Itself,
Is
the
heliotrope,
although
little.
originality. In leaving
destroying others.
The prim
phloxes appear as
On
It
in the
186
since there
was
it
still
He
was not reading "An Ambitious Boy's Garwhen I went out; but entertaining Mr.
Hayden, who had returned early in the morning
from the mountains, and who then had hastened
to the Six Spruces, he said, to hear how we had
stood the gale.
It did seem remarkable that he
should have come back with such rain and wind.
All the time he had been away there had scarcely
been breeze enough in the garden to toss a dead
leaf, while with his return there had come a hurricane.
Joseph and I began to think there was some
den," as
Hayden
He
and
his
Mr.
home
"The whole
he
said, "if
better let
me
talk with
man whom
thing.
it
He
to
is,
do
so>,
however,
CHAPTER XXIV
THE FALL OF ONE OF THE SPRUCES
ALTHOUGH
tree.
by
could do nothing to
The
gardeners from
it,
and
They
also
all
Mr.
talked
The
stroke of lightning
had entered
at the base of
the tree, and had then run up the stem and burst
it
open.
first
This
Even
our Aunt
to take
before.
it
Even
the screech-owl
made
his
moaning
The
still
very lovely.
188
They began
to
bloom
In June,
Foxgloves, however,
bloom
sow
other year.
We
She gave us a
were raised from seed last
year, which therefore were ready to send out their
first summer blooms for us at the Six Spruces. They
were a trifle slow in getting started, perhaps on acIt
number of
plants that
when once
Our
"We
must always have them in the garden," Joseph says, "now that we have become acquainted
with them."
To keep them with us he will first let them seed
themselves in their own way.
This means that we
PLATE XXXI.
STILL LOVELY
189
when
the
little
them
last
up,
We
have no canterbury-bells
They
also are
ing.
We
and
at
in
our garden.
Nestly Heights.
in the bed,
will
and
It will not
be
he says, for him to raise both foxgloves and canit would be to grow one or the
terbury-bells than
There
air that
is
we
like to see in
we must never
try to
our garden.
make
I tell
Joseph
to
Mr. Hayden's
for
190
Mrs.
Joseph plays tennis with Ben and Harry.
and
is
are
there,
when
kind
we
Hayden is very
delicate
especially fond of Joseph; but she is a
woman, and seldom walks farther with us than the
first
terrace.
She
a very helpful
is
and wise
little girl.
Some-
times she says things that sound quite like her aunt,
but this
is
much
live
As I supposed we would, after we had had luncheon we began our walk about the garden.
Besides
are only yellow pansies at Nestly
have never before seen so many white
pansies as were there to-day.
Mr. Hayden says
white,
there
Heights.
this
that
is
it
new notion of
all.
He
and
prefers to
191
the
effective,
plants.
The
yellow
air of their
own.
Pansies are
This must be
a great work when one has so many hundreds of
flowers picked off every morning.
them
At
however, I should
like
by the
tri-
angle.
192
we have none
of them.
The
flowers of
in
care for
we
Some
itself.
of the house.
when
other
It looks
flowers
bed of salvia
in front
have
died.
The
salvia
at
He said he
many
so
scientific
At Nestly Heights
Mr. Percy
replied
is
freer," he continued,
Joseph what he
said,
would remember
when
193
to tell
a lady-bug flew on
my
hand.
"Do
not
kill
it,"
Mr. Percy
When we
on
it
to do as
Mr. Percy
much
me
it
off
desired.
a large white-
oak tree. The day before, the men had taken off
one of its limbs, badly broken by the storm. The
tree proved to be somewhat hollow, and within they
had found a nest of flying squirrels.
Unfortunately, they had to be routed, as the broken part
was to be filled and sealed. Mr. Percy, however,
had found them another home in the hollow of an
old tree at the back of the place.
It would be useless, he said, for us to try to see them.
Like the
screech-owl, they are nocturnal in their habits, only
coming out
in
It
was rather
This
have ever seen
the night.
late
when we
left
regretted,
as
flying squirrels.
Nestly Heights,
On
at
194.
There was
We
his
we
off,
Long
lawn and
They were
not so
among
far
said nothing,
work.
knowing
that
CHAPTER XXV
OUR GOLDEN GLOW AND HOLLYHOCKS
WHEN
the frost
was out of
first
the
ground
in.
the
He
and paid
little
attention
tO'
in front of the
them
over.
They were
Still, I
had thought
little
about them.
and labour.
Golden glows are delightful, I think, when
looked at from a distance. They then make everyI9S
196
something a
go
close to
There
trifle
is
Even
no one could
yellow.
The
surplus they
it.
always seems a
do not know
little
miffed
just
when
I talk
much about
yellow.
expectation
of their parents'
return.
We
then
i^H^HHIii
We
to stand
was
197
and
we saw him
of the smoke-tree.
liant, full
We
listen.
a catbird, yet
it
lively
and
bril-
varied that
would
It
is
an
indicate.
We
have always thought that this particular catbird was the one whose nest we found some time
ago in one of the lilacs by the stable. It had in it
six
eggs of a
The
they consume
is
considerable.
we
are
to
198
so cruel to deprive
it
of
its
at such
near us
live
another spring.
Mr. Percy
but as
become great
we have
only a
The
ones,
and
middle of
this
all
single
month they
may dry thoroughly and be ready for him to sow in the seed-bed.
Perhaps by October the seedlings will be large
ripe he will gather them, that they
enough to transplant
to the places
on the
triangle
PLATE
XXXIII.
Phntntiranli
hv Alirp RmicrVifnn
199
I listen in
tells
He
all
This
read.
details
for
They know
Is
themselves
when watching
ners In gardening.
little
flowers.
down
for begin-
life,
she has
this
Some boys,
when they make
little
success
Sometimes
how
He
think there
to handle a plant
and how
am
Is
knows, withto
I
my
200
work
is
How
know how
to
weave
so beautifully?
wondered.
Just then Queenie Perth came to answer the question as best she could.
made
bugs.
creatures
might make,
enemy.
It is a
know no good
I still
mystery to
a nest or
me why
web
these
the roses.
I
pose
is
way
would
me
forsake
my
no pest
roses.
make
fan
is
roses,
is
201
even the
Here and
unfolding.
know
Spruces.
We
still call
there are
its life
to stop counting
stroke
longer.
and
of
it
lightning
Some
day, I suppose,
all
by others.
I am glad that we have a mignonette, lemon
verbena and maidenhair fern in our garden. When
I
put
little
sprigs of these
Mr.
Some
days
Hayden
its
we suppose Mr.
The
whereabouts.
202
many
it
is
kinds of
rather con-
fusing.
I
me
not know-
all
about them.
think
we
CHAPTER XXVI
WATER GARDENS AND OTHER THINGS
THERE
water-lilies,
one, which
known
common
When Joseph
?03
and
girl.
Yet
pond-lily in
peered
down
WATER GARDENS,
204.
into the
ETC.
we saw
that their
They
ter.
are
One
pickerel-weed.
It
is
common
is
the
tall,
for the
of
Heights.
we could
make the moist point of our triangle more conspicuous than it has been this season.
If we had not
hinted to Joseph that perhaps next year
be an improvement, and
irises there, it
we
would
WATER GARDENS,
ETC.
205
Mr.
see
us.
clumps of the
feathery-
tall,
plume
As autumn draws
grass.
near,
grass
this
best,
its
of grass in our garden, but I should like to see several about the place.
As
yet, I
these additions
would
require,
is
One
day, perhaps,
we may
find
somewhere under
the ground.
brilliant
the
soil
of the window-box.
however,
now
we have
thought
little
in the
Joseph or
me
in the least
until yesterday,
Since
garden,
when Mr.
Noth-
unusual to
Percy,
who
WATER GARDENS,
206
ETC.
first
Perhaps
habit of doing.
was
effected because
the season.
peeped
as there
that
it
We
is
in the
will last in
have
all
cardinal-flowers.
of as beautiful a red
says
successful planting,
meadow
it is
Later,
we
plants and see whether there is any difference between them and those that Joseph has grown. The
real
home of cardinal-flowers
is
in
wild places.
Mr.
in
meadow.
On
many
ble.
them.
For
in the
woods or meadows.
was
much
glad, therefore,
WATER GARDENS,
to hear
Mr. Percy
He
soon take.
more
ETC.
207
we
shall
late autumn.
Judging from the many things that Joseph has
set down in his note-book to do this autumn, I begin
to think that July and August must be the real playtimes of a garden.
In these months we have
chiefly to
while
in the
The
season,
we
way of
They
insect pests.
have not been so annoying as to cause discouragement, nor have they been especially numerous. Joseph has, nevertheless, been continually on the
watch against them, keeping the plants well
sprayed, while about the base of
wood
ashes.
We
many he
has put
many
more
raised
birds,
their
WATER GARDENS,
208
haps return
in
ETC.
"Those
Joseph and
would not let their nest be disturbed. Our hammock was swung near, and it was interesting to
have the young raised where we could look at
them each day.
These phoebe-birds belong to a class called flycatchers.
Their habit is to perch themselves somewhere, as on the top of a roof or a clothes-pole, to
fly off
and to return again directly to their forThis they accomplish with great quickness, and with an aim so sure that few insects escape
'them.
It pleased us to watch them for long times
together, and we were delighted with their quaint
in the air,
mer
perch.
One
day,
grown and
when
was
at
Over
Harry.
my hands
comfortably.
When
Suddenly
WATER GARDENS,
ETC.
209
found that myriads of tiny Insects, or, in fact, birdwere crawling up and down the side of the
house, and had even extended their walk along the
lice,
hammock.
They
at
tolerate
minute.
from then
tions.
strong
when
dispossessed.
They
flapped
their
WATER GARDENS,
210
ETC.
would not
let
them
rest
Mrs. Keith.
Joseph could hardly realise the disgrace into which
they had fallen, although Mrs, Keith stated the
I was thankfacts of the case to him very plainly.
ful we had no cats, which might find these young
birds dainty morsels of food before they had
learned to keep themselves well up In the
air.
from
their
home.
He
CHAPTER XXVII
EARLY AUGUST DAYS
IT
The
August.
is
while
many
ing a
main crop of
flowers,
My monthly
important-looking.
may
little less
tall
and
It
August, happily,
is
the time
much work.
let
beat them.
He
much
less in
"An Ambitious Boy's Garden" than formerly, although this does not surprise me, as I should think
he might be able to repeat it from beginning to end.
But, while Joseph has been playing tennis, Timothy has shown great devotion to the garden. He
has weeded it often, and kept the borders trimmed
neatly.
He
is
making up
his
212
what
is
wise,
is
thinking about
Mr.
Percy, like-
what we should do
this
At
flowers are
now
is
enough
tempt to catch
making an
I think
unsuccessful at-
mother was
a way that sounded like
near-by, talking to
it
in
scolding.
In this part of the garden some glorious rosemallows are now blooming. They remind me
more of hollyhocks than they do of roses. Mr.
Percy gave us their roots and planted them for us
himself, some time after he and Joseph had set out
the ferns.
For a while, we almost forgot them,
although I saw that they were growing to be unusually large plants, with leaves of an attractive
green.
But neither Joseph nor I had any idea of
the gorgeous flowers that would burst out in August
from their large buds. Some of these flowers are
white with a crimson ring at their base, which has
given them the name of "crimson-eye."
The
others are a pure, brilliant pink.
Mr. Percy had
been watching for the day when they would open,
PLATE XXXVI.
ROSE-MALLOWS
and,
this not
213
in the
morn-
"You
will
Joseph asked
if this
were a
joke.
them
in
to reach
such wet
that
I have found
was impossible
Sometimes
meadows
it
boots.
My
father,"
him
to a
swamp
Some day
I will
take
Many of them
there are
say
when shown
some of
favourites thriving in a neglected
swamp. The fact that rose-mallows are wild
flowers makes Joseph and me like them better than
his
214
We
ever.
them, feeling
in
We wished'to look at
leaves
very
drooped.
quickly
withered,
But, alas
and
it
the
the
flower
had
lost
its
attractiveness.
fresh."
I
Percy anticipated.
The
and
it
was
as
Mr.
These
and
as,
She told us
it
was
no
different
in
it
it
appeared
had been
maples.
215
Oswego tea has been in bloom at Miss Wiseman's since July; but only while speaking about
our rose-mallows did Joseph find out that it also
was
a wildling
gardeners.
which had
It belongs
fallen
mint, which
many
little,
In fact,
something of the same spicy fragrance.
I asked Joseph if he expected to plant
brooks.
common
It
at the
He
The morning-glory
and Joseph and
alarm cry that,
vine
is still
if
we sow
it
it
bearing flowers,
with
I are in love
it,
despite the
another year
will rise
among
to death.
"That
is
a dreadful tale,"
Joseph commented,
petunias
them
"Do
216
and that of a
much
alike?" I
"Some
of the petunias at
Miss Wiseman's," I
She has them of
"It
is
"What
"It
is
is it,
then?"
I asked.
"They
them grow."
"I know," Joseph
assented.
"They are
an-
nuals."
When
artificial
217
pick as
picks.
Occasionally we see her
gathering their tiny seeds, which are like grains
of silver.
Wherever there was space, Queenie
One
tree has
met with
a tragic death.
It
know where
tracted
it.
to Imitate
In this
was killed on
which we had
neighbourhood.
We
did
the cat
Perhaps
it
Its cry.
When Mrs. Keith reached the triangle, the yellow creature had the bird In Its mouth, and was
making for the wall as fast as It could. Mrs.
218
Keith struck
at
which
it
it
and for an
its
The
life.
instant
bird was.
still
warm,
"Never again
come on this
"Your
and me.
here."
your permission to
"and probably it never
Then we
all
thought
it
it
was
CHAPTER XXVIII
LITTLE JOSEPH WINS THE
JOSEPH
has just
won
TOURNAMENT
left
said
how
shook
He
west wind.
"If I were a few years younger," he said, "I
would
tackle
you myself.
With
are
this,
220
that
it
was
just
what he had
expected.
Queenie
and said
We
my
heart
was
foolish.
I believe
all else.
221
perennials.
Augusta
me
Victorias, white
to cut
cession."
I said
we
at
let
it
hold
me
in the water.
The
of their coming.
He
year."
222
seph attended
strictly to the
garden.
soil
He weeded,
plants.
He repaired some of his tools that
become broken during the summer, and generally tidied things up a bit.
He also set himself
about cutting worms' nests out of a tree at the edge
many
ha.d
of the wood-border.
At Nestly Heights they have a pair of clippingdo this work which are fastened at the
shears to
end of
a ver}'
long handle.
man
can stand on
the ground and yet reach with this tool the high
in
tree.
number to
223
We
planted some of them in front of the phloxes, thinking they would be gone before the asters began to
bloom.
are
still
am
They come
many gay
in
colours,
At
present, I
The
with a miserable
little
in
wood
tobacco-water
just
before
perchance, a
number of yellow
we have an especial
we selected from the
ones.
Somehow,
224)
appeared on the
said to
me
Many
trees.
"We
ten-weeks stocks."
August.
many heads
I
do not
us by bearing
like
magenta
Usually
however,
in
side
by
side
this
and
and
that,
numbers of bright
little care,
flowers.
Our
garden
never
is
fly
far away.
PLATE XXXVIII.
ONE
SIDE
white robin.
red breast,
its
will
although
know
its
225
it,"
other
feathers
are
white."
Joseph paid
little
thinking Queenie
attention,
is
The
white robin
it
were
in the
was
world.
on
my
place.
We
have
all
seen
him
many
times.
it
distinc-
tion.
in the
blooming.
June,
my
One day
this entirely
lawn.
way he
is
this
summer,
think in late
His breast
is
Percy Hayden
white
him an albino,"
Miss Wiseman continued. "I call him a freak."
Later, when we walked along Miss Wiseman's
narrow path with the privet hedge on one side and
the flowering shrubs on the other, I myself saw the
He was picking up grubs among the
white robin.
feathers.
calls
226
should have
known him
feather.
Again,
there
is
reason."
At least,
You must
tell
us the
CHAPTER XXIX
THE RETURN HOME
FOR nearly a
fortnight, Joseph
and
had been
there; but
now
for so long.
We
Of
we had
course, then
we had
we knew nothing
at all
We were
we
we thought
As
the spruces
228
It
at dusk.
I think
full
den.
At
dusk, however, as
triangle, all
we
good
home
again.
The
made
we went
away.
had
and messeem gay and
Indeed,
little
flowers
it
first
229
colours,
dinal-flowers
August.
"It must be because the hydrangeas are in,
bloom," Joseph said when I spoke with him about
it.
said.
It was.
"Do you
"No, indeed,"
answered.
"Then
230
who
attended
it
should be
away.
When we
came to Nestly,
He had,
school.
to
work
in,
last
Joseph
March,
it
was too
to begin going to
the garden.
was
We
had not
Perth ran
in.
finished breakfast
when Queenie
laden with
asters,
ley
is
We
PLATE XXXIX.
HYDRANGEAS
AND PHLOXES
231
two lumps of
sugar.
toss
and the
it
about,
wings.
its
often sat on
not a bit
my
head and on
afraid of me."
"Then why
"Because
it
did
was
It
my
very much.
hands.
It
wet
It
was
"It
tame
was
ticipated.
When we
asked her
some
if
she intended to
said:
South to live."
"Do you mean that
butterflies
migrate like
"Some
of them do,"
Jack Frost kills many butterflies," and she waved her hands around as though
the air was full of them.
"Which ones migrate?" Joseph asked, seeking
she added; "not
all.
information.
"The milkweed
"They
promptly.
butterflies,"
Queenie answered
fly
down
232
From
knew
is
Queenie's voice
quite well
we were
mischievous, but,
when
relating.
Often she
serious, she is
much more
little girls.
We
we
their
us of other things.
"It
when
what
is
truly hydrangea-time,"
Miss Wiseman
"I hardly
said
know
of the year."
We
if
he
233
We
have
their welfare.
one neighbour, however, whose name I will not
mention, who always spies out and pfaises the
plants he has given us.
One day he said to Joseph
"That pansy I gave you is the best-looking flower
in the
garden."
many
They
of
its
cream-
look
Although our vine is young and just beginning to show what it can do, its growth has been
upon.
remarkable for
this
one year.
At Nestly Heights
trellises,
"How
fortunate
it is,"
I said to
flowers
They
give
little
Then with
234
until,
in
June,
it
seemed as
now
in
they knew
if
Later in the
in gorgeousness, while
wearing an
spring.
air
like that of
^the
fear of
When
Spruces,
Joseph and
we looked
of the way.
We
passed
fields
hemmed
Six
of goldenrod, and,
us in on both sides.
Their colours
PLATE XL.
235
CHAPTER XXX
SEPTEMBER DAYS
LONG
ered this
first
for beauty
season,
when
The crimson
In this decision
fairly well cov-
its
possibilities
I like these
We
At Nestly Heights
were fortunate
hardy
in
as the
crimson ones.
hope Joseph
Though
will always
I
sow
have found
SEPTEMBER DAYS
23T
So
far, I
once
in a
them to
insects
we had
molest them
to
show them
we wished
much about
For
leaves are
more
brilliantly
Mr. Percy
Now
their
by the gate."
I replied that
way.
"Well," he
said, "it
is
in that
when
In
my
SEPTEMBER DAYS
238
Now
tice that
our garden
is
ripening.
It
and
reminds
I no-
me
of
petals,
finally
Many
to the ground.
fallen,
it
also falls
Joseph has had to be lively himself to colseeds as he wished to put by for drying
many
and sowing.
we
give the
To-day
was surprised
them awkwardly
This he was
doing near the spot where the Shirley poppies had
been so enchanting.
I had already noticed that he
and Timothy had been busy there working over the
large package of seeds, dropping
and rather
soil.
"What
"You
said you
of them."
"We
in
many
PLATE
XLI.
"JOSEPH
AWKWARDLY
SEPTEMBER DAYS
man
239
this
season."
"Three weeks
is
if
different in
made much
earlier.
The phloxes were still gay,
and a few of the monthly roses of the fan were as
lovely as ever.
Mignonette still bloomed, delighting in Its cool, shady place, while here and there a
rose-mallow was to be seen.
The heliotrope-bed
held
many
flowers.
had thought
Before
we owned
a garden I
conservatories.
It
now seems
to
me
mostly in
almost as
cumbed
is
waning.
Yet,
when we come
triangle has a
herself
is
blooming now
in such
They
are
flow-
SEPTEMBER DAYS
^40
They appear
in
every
They
we came
latter
There are
looking like
it
I
is
in
this
meant
do hardy perennials.
"Trouble!" exclaimed Miss Wiseman.
"You
talk of trouble before such a flower as this," and
drooped by
"It
is
its
like a
own
weight.
chrysanthemum," she
said.
Miss Wiseman was truly excited over her success with dahlias: never before had they done so
well in her garden.
SEPTEMBER DAYS
241
"Shall
year?" he asked.
them
to see
"Not
in a
for
my
garden
in
September."
questioned no further.
Perhaps he thought
that,
my
were not
if
hers
"There
is
"What
They
Perhaps
quickly then, you may be sure.
have to go after them twice a day as long
die
I shall
as they
SEPTEMBER DAYS
242
But
appear.
this
may not be
for
more than
week
or ten days."
him.
that
place
It
the country.
in
her garden.
proper time to
She
is
"It
story,
is
is
a long
tell it."
at
made
more of
the
a haze has
hung over
the garden.
form of the
still
trees,
green foliage.
The
birds
SEPTEMBER DAYS
243
pack, no
afl^airs
road maps.
their friends
They simply
and
relatives,
"Our garden
no
gay company of
and
fly off,
leaving their
air.
will be a
much
less
happy place
said,
We looked
about to see
CHAPTER XXXI
GETTING READY FOR BULB-PLANTING
SOME
They are frail and deliand look like early flowers. It seems as
though they had made a mistake in blooming so
frost.
Frost
is
just a little
way
mentioned
Long ago
in
more
difficult
to explain.
asked her
how
she knew.
244
PLATE
XLII.
245
away
passing
things
now
sharply,
and
in this
September reminds
me
again
now and
may become
well,
The
named Mont
fifty
English
irises,
MG
fifty
little
price.
Joseph planted these irises in September, because he wishes their foliage to grow before the
winter begins.
He says that in November he will
cover them over quite heavily with straw, since they
are not absolutely hardy, as are the German and
Japanese irises which we planted last spring. But
under warm covering he thinks they will rest in
comfort.
With
irises,
of the
The
however,
way before
irises
were
to.
the real
set
deep
autumn planting
begins.
Joseph
all
rounding greens.
Miss Wiseman's
poeticus
much
tulips,
at
we were
both so enchanted
and
With
last spring
other tulips.
Ml
blooming.
We
them
We
bought no hyacinths.
as
much
and
ourselves
it
to
from
Miss Wiseman
show
to
men.
is,
seri-
If he
it
it
was
ripe, the
a melancholy,
unkempt
look.
Nothing
is
more
Some-
248
thing must be
or he would not
of pleasure which I
But then
him.
it
am
would be wrong
to allow
them
No
bloom, to pick
scatter
about
or yellow flowers.
me
that I
had when he
249
that,
how
near
it is
to real
winter."
There
Hayden.
and
it
250
"My
said.
down
said,
the long
"We
"but in
We
pink, perfect
all
and
this
warm
house
it
grew
prolifically,
more
like a
our bed at
"Do
since
not pick
we have
"But
it
it,"
I said.
it."
Mr. Percy
look.
on.
Mr. Percy
some wooded
"I should
not have dared to pick so many, even for you. Miss
Amanda.
The
wildlings
said,
need protection.
But
and heliotrope."
251
much
to
go to
school.
"and
you know,
then,
shall
be down again at
Christmas-time."
"But,"
I said,
"I
may
you and
drop
if
no garden
at
see."
Little Joseph."
"We shall
"but,
in then,"
come and
there
"No," he
a log
fire, it
may
not seem at
all dull to
me.
As
usual,
it
nis.
faded.
as
"From now
on,
until the
age."
So again
CHRYSANTHEMUMS
253
name.
Ours are
to love
from
afar.
ers, I
CHRYSANTHEMUMS
254
They
it
without complaining.
me
of birds
He
them
set
his
Six
ing the
first
soil.
Then
he kept the
new
roses,
need
shoots and
should grow bushy and not bloom before the autumn call for them came clearly.
Next spring, when the;ge plants begin to sprout,
we shall divide them as Timothy did his this last
Looking into the future, therefore, I see
season.
an increased number of these late visitors at the
We have learned that they do best
Six Spruces.
when planted in rich soil where the sun can linger
upon them. Also, they like a wall. Some day,
when we make our wide border about the house,
we may plant them against its sunny side. During
the long weeks before they bloom their foliage is
them much
soft,
ashen green.
While
PLATE XLV.
CHRYSANTHEMUMS
265
trils, it
it
way
rain, in a
that
sprinkling.
to the nos-
made me know
We
have been
ended
in
taking
away our
This rain
spruce tree.
and was
last
two or three
sensible
autumn
Joseph and
As long
days.
rain,
I shall
Mrs. Keith
as
it
said, to
remains a
be content.
He
needs some
other matters.
While he
thinks, reads
and makes
soil.
much
closet,
CHRYSANTHEMUMS
256
do
it
though they
were snowflakes.
"I shall plant
circle in front
to break the
all
in.
the
monotony of the
"Then, when
rain.
to Miss
re-
minded.
I told
tant."
made
answer.
in.
as
though trying
pane.
"Perhaps
said,
this
first,
"that
Timothy
CHRYSANTHEMUMS
257
way
"Planting bulbs
I can
any work at all.
three dozen every half
hour.
I shall plant them below the grass-roots,
probably between three and four inches deep, and,
in places where they are apt to be touched by ma-
in that
manage
is
scarcely
to slip in about
You
said
it
"Let us go after
eagerly.
"We
can
drive
to
the
nursery
right
away."
"The
rain?" I said.
is
CHRYSANTHEMUMS
258
you to go out
The
nursery
Spruces, and
is
we found
it
to avoid temptation.
My
CHRYSANTHEMUMS
shades of red and yellow.
brilliant
their
inquired
name.
259
adding under
trees," the
nurseryman
moustache, "Liquidam-
his great
bar styraciflua."
"They
are beautiful!"
"We
thusiastically.
have nothing at
all like
them
"They grow
seryman urged.
"How much
was the
asked boldly,
vital question.
let
you have
"We
wondered why
a
had done
and then
so.
word.
name,
ceased.
He
wished,
he
said,
to
show us
his
me by
we
the
could
"But
It
is
less," I said,
260
for
CHRYSANTHEMUMS
me would
cost,
and the
long as
we do."
The wheels then were going farther down
mud than when we had started out.
in the
CHAPTER XXXIII
THE AUTUMN WORK
It is
to
bed
activity
on
Imagination.
him
He
and
it
will look
also
when
spring.
With
planted early,
in
262
dens.
work
at
Yesterday I noticed that, before setting the plants, the men often put a spadeIn fact,
ful of manure in the bottom of the holes.
doing this for her.
row
of this
full
ness of soil
strong
is
stuff
somewhere
near.
make
necessary to
Much
Wiseman would
give us
sufficient
increase
start,
itself.
at the
Miss
rich-
and wishes to
From now
let
on, he
in
new
is
we have
our garden
going to be
plants.
He
pre-
fers to
to
lilies-of-the-valley.
we have made
new
autumn.
We planted these lilies between the rosarium and
the wood-border.
There the lilies will have the
ones
this
we
two
filled
feet,
first
roses.
dug out
When Timothy
the soil for about
throughwhich
S63
I shall
we
shall
have
to wait until
May
I
is
to see
them in bloom.
Without telling me a thing about it, Joseph has
kept a piece of news in his head about lilies-of-thevalley.
"They
we
else.
much wild
flowers as rhododen-
They spread
fill
maga^
Mr. Percy
it
was all a mistake, because he had seen them himgrowing wild in the higher Alleghanies."
"Let us hope they will grow here as if they were
self
264
right in
the matter.
and album.
each stalk.
mer, but
They
We
this
on
sum-
Al-
noticed
we have
lost
them
in
bloom
if
they have
So we said we
would not take them now, but that, when our garden was older and we knew its needs better, we
might find a place just suited to them. Joseph said
perhaps we would have an inspiration about them
during the winter, and then we could plant them
in the spring, after the frost had left the ground.
"Spoken like the wise boy you are!" Miss Wisejust stepped out of a hot-house.
man
replied simply.
This week he has continued to plant the snowdrops through the turf of the triangle.
They are
and
that we wish to keep them
such dear
little
flowers,
will
as
come up so
near us
They
early,
as possible,
the whole world to see, as are the gay crocuses scattered through the front lawn.
somewhat
The
Siberian squills
random. Joseph is
playing that they are wild flowers coming up of
are strewn about
own accord.
More thought,
at
their
and
the
in
alyssum.
265
space
They have
is
planted,
by sweet
formerly occupied
When
they
his bulbs,
them
His plan
Is
all
up and have
their
bed
at present this
is
when
would greatly
The
off
its
it
need
narcissi
suffer.
daffodils
in the grass in
266
many
we hope
they
years.
tired,
work
At
half after
from Nestly
Heights stops here for him, and he drives away
with Ben and Harry.
His school began two days
after Mr. Percy went back to college.
The garden then seemed to me more lonely than if all the
birds and flowers had left.
Now I am growing
eight
carriage
me many
there are
my
things
about
the
house.
Then
roses.
out.
With
my
roses,
is
not
to be done to
a
them
until late in
267
piles,
in
Timothy
is
tender roots.
Mr. Hayden
help
me
will send
one of
his gardeners to
them
either too
advises
me
much
or too
little.
Miss Wiseman
which case she
In
November
about two feet in height, and the monthly or everblooming ones she trims down to about a foot.
Some day I shall perhaps see for myself how wise
it is to cut back roses In the late autumn
but now
it seems to me a rather cruel thing to do, when all
summer they have been striving so bravely to grow.
I wonder what would really have happened to
Aunt Amanda's blush-rose bush if, during all the
years gone by, it had been under the care of Mr.
Hayden's gardener. The roses might have been
larger, but surely they could have smelt no sweeter,
and perhaps the bush would not have lived so long.
I have other thoughts about roses, which I shall
not write down, however, until I have watched the
;
only
let
268
famous for
my
roses as
Miss Wiseman
is
for her
dahlias.
for an instant,
as
much
alive as
were
Spring came
among our
same colour
as
now
autumn
departs.
as lively as a cricket."
Of
late
farmers.
He
in the clutches
fields
of the
loading wagons
the
which stand
fields.
like
The autumn
turned
upheld.
CHAPTER XXXIV
DAYS NEAR THANKSGIVING
LAST night a
It
it
so unflinchingly
and were
killed
little
in
the
fields.
The
many
S70
winter.
it
in
our garden.
To me
Joseph
persists
it
is
true.
and look
wonder if they have the same appearance then as when upholding their stalks of flowers.
Wonderful happenings must go on in the soil where
they live, or various roots looking more or less
alike would never be able to send up so many flowers of different shapes and colours.
If any of our perennials fail to come up next
sleeping.
and been unable to live. The sensawhen it is cold must be truly dreadthey cannot call out for aid or in any way
in the earth
tions of a plant
ful, as
271
We
The
dead
now appear
me
to
as
merely
many
places,
At
there
if
a fluffy look
from the
all Is
dead, but
tall grasses
and
down
ground.
extreme neat-
to the
appearance of
life.
It
has the
still,
garden."
we
see clearly
many
272
birds' nests.
They
these nests.
their usefulness
tell
is
about
When
spirit.
that claims
in
with the
flight, rising, as it
were, from
nowhere.
He
is
as he
off,
flies
cornfield, for
crows delight
in feasting
on the
far-
mer's corn and seek the left-over ears which occasionally stand out
tures
from the
stacks.
Poor
crea-
Who but
meal ?
Joseph insists, however, that crows are cowards
and have not the highest standard of morals. But
I have only heard of one really wicked crow, while
those I now see about quite cheer me.
I do not
agree with people who think they make this
a miser
and
They
their
give a
life
and probhappened in
the spring when chickens are tender and at the
age to make good broilers.
Timothy Pennell's
son had raised a number for the market, regarding
them with pride and expectations. One day from
the window he saw a crow sweep down from the
broad sky, and take back in the air with him one
stole
It
4^|i^
JW"
PLATE
XLVIII.
>
'',''''
IS
DEAD
'
273
of these chickens.
His father was working outhad not seen the occurrence. Timothy's son, quickly opening the window, called
loudly to his father:
"The crow has a chicken,
!"
the crow has a chicken
Unfortunately, Timothy had his poor ear turned
side,
but
words were
"The
horse
Is
is
a-kl eking!"
he started
the chicken.
Timothy's son
quickly
after
is
the
Since
this
happened,
all.
about
butterflies..
It,"
"There
she explains.
is
And
nothing to say
this Is true,
now
since,
all
her
274.
They
are
now
completely dead.
When
spring re-
and
have another garden identical with the one of this
year.
Now her hands are idle, as far as garden
work is concerned. She has done no autumn planting, nor was there any need for her to cover over
turns, she will
again,
anything.
We
to take
it
be thinking seriously of
It
is
many
things.
and the
in thinking he had banished them from the triangle.
Yet, as I walked
about to-day, a gay, golden head nodded to me
amid the greyness of the garden. I stooped to
scan it closely.
It was a dandelion blossom as
fresh and undaunted as if it were May instead of
November, the rosette of its leaves appearing perfect.
I found it near the moist point, where Jo-
feeling of pride
he had
in
other places.
dandelion.
"
275
less long,
where-
its
many
it stayed in bloom, and to see if it would succeed in making its ball of seeds before the first snow
fell.
I had not, however, taken Saturday into account, the day that Joseph has no school.
We were at breakfast that morning when he
days
said:
little
dandelions in bloom."
it,
do with it?"
he queried.
I asked.
"I took
up and
it
of course."
So perished the
last flower
men
call
it
weed.
"Do you
realise," I asked, to
Thanksgiving,
and
Mr.
Percy
will
be
home
again?"
"I have a composition to write before then,"
Joseph answered in an extremely doleful way.
"That
"It
test,"
is
is
nothing," I said.
"You
just
begin
"After
that,
it is
not
so bad."
remembered that compositions are hard to begin, and sometimes hard to end, but that the middle parts give no trouble.
I
"In spring
it
"
276
it is
difficult
that
is
ugly word
was about to
composition
the
about
utter.
our
garden,"
eagerly.
knowing the
Joseph interrupted,
"Sleeping,"
is
so
much
he
said
would not be
Probably
on one sheet of
to say.
all
paper.
one,
and only
the flowers.
a
I
Joseph was then as ready to begin his composihad formerly been fearful of the under-
tion as he
He
had simply
on a subject that
and one which filled him
with enthusiasm.
I knew that, once he was fairly
started on his work, his observations would be
quaint and different from those of the catalogues
and garden books. Joseph can express himself as
well as most boys.
Suddenly, I looked at him
with an awakened Interest.
Would the day ever
come for Joseph to write a better book than "An
Ambitious Boy's Garden" ?
taking.
he
knew something
about,
settled
CHAPTER XXXY
THE SNOW
SINCE
now
rests
and
sleeping,
and
there is no
its
since
best,
we have turned
do,
woods
to the
me
to
We are not
Joseph and
awoke
flakes
and
The
spotless.
last
above
perchance of his
It,
fel-
him
on leaving
"Now
life in
ter
it
and
Its
as possible.
is
the country,"
us.
"Win-
Timothy
Pennell,
who
277
THE SNOW
2*^8
one of
them
at the
objects.
He
arranged
that, later,
bells.
He
was
As soon
It
as
gleamed so
Joseph had
THE SNOW
279
said,
lily."
I told
at
From
this
he
had made
of
it
Just
to
I
do such
but
agreed with him that he was the very best kind of
;
a son.
me
and,
when
"will
grow up
gout."
It
my
Mr.
rare combination.
of mine at tennis."
my
THE SNOW
280
In despair at
for us to taste.
make
Mr. Hayden's
visit,
He
down
had decided, he
said,
for
surprise
added, "that
me
it
therefore
"You remember," he
my boy Percy will be home the day
Christmas.
before."
"It must be a secret,"
pressively,
Mr. Hayden
said im-
on Christmas eve,
come out of the chimney dressed
and then
I shall
as Santa Claus."
One
We
for him.
bag to
I said that I
away.
THE SNOW
and that
boys of
it
281
his.
Then he
told
me
as a
all,
The
Mr. Hayden
told
me was
is
third secret
that he
away
so as to be ready
all
They
are
be>-
coming scarcer every year. It is a barbarous custom to chop down a beautiful tree that it may give
a few hours' pleasure.
My son Percy does not
approve of this custom, either. He would be
shocked If I should have a real evergreen tree at
Nestly Heights on Christmas eve, and I should no
longer be able to preach to people about the preservation of our evergreens.
am
in
having
my
tree
made.
much
There
it
is
too
much fun
up."
and
to help
him
as
prises.
"Not
word of
this to Little
Joseph," he said
THE SNOW
282
the surprise
Not
my
a word!"
father at Christmas.
"Not
word
to anybody!"
saw the
"Our
think:
snow.
Little
red,
a great puff of
vacation
vacation,
begun,"
has
cried,
"Just
Little
We
said.
mas
snow
as Joseph.
at
They
playj
PLATE XLIX.
THE SNOW
283
"It
knew
that she
all
the time
Joseph."
rubber gloves.
home
Mr.
when he came
bit different
for Christmas.
much
to enjoy the
THE SNOW
284
And
brow.
well might
it
sleep
In
Joseph had forgotten the garden.
way, he was content to let it sleep.
his sensible
"On
am
going
thought our
would
slip
first
we have done
de-
nothing to disgrace
our great-aunt.
sleeps,
we
Timothy Pennell and such good neighMiss Wiseman and Mr. Hayden of Nestly
helper as
bours as
Heights.
We do
is
another
girl
so whimsical
THE SNOW
if
285
When
at length
hope he
the garden.
I
it
know
that
forever.
THE END
I,
who am
nearly
INDEX TO FLOWERS
A
Candytuft
191
59, 66, 161
i8g
Canterbury-bells
Ca'dinal-flowers. .17, 109, 125,
205, 212, 229
Catbirds
196,217
Cherry-trees
1
54,
14s
"
Blue
Apple Blossoms
Aralia Spinosa
Arbutus, Trailing
Asters
223
122
259
Chipping Sparrows
234
Azaleas
Azalea Lutea
Cinnamon Ferr
118
1
74
Clematis Paniculata.88, 90, 233
Clio
83, 130, 131, 164, 201
18
117,118,191
Columbines
Wild
Baby's Breath
17,
Banana Leaves
Beauty, Painted
Bedding-out Plants
Biennials
109, IS2
Cosmos
63, 148
Bridal-wreaths
Bulb-planter
Virginia
Creepers,
Bulbs
Migration
Milkweed
257
245, 265
231
231
239
83
88, 89,
106
.10, 13, 131
126, 161
34, 137
25,
17
Crawford, Mrs. R. G. S.
127
Bird-houses
5
Black Birds
7
Bloodroot
54, 73
Bluebirds
6, 20, 47
Blue-eyed Grass, Pointed. 124
Blue Flags, Wild
102,113
Brakes
113,136
Correspondence
248
56,188
Bluets
Blush-rose Bush.
138, 174
97, 103,
Chrysanthemums
Mollis
100,
107
Wild
Butterfly,
"
PAGE
59, 66, 147, 161
128, 191 248
Cannas
244
56,168,211
Annuals
Aphis
"
FACE
Adam's-needles
Alyssum, Sweet. 57,
Anemone, Japanese
165, 236
24, 40, 246, 264
Crows
272, 277
Currant-bushes
10, 11
Crocuses
Cutworms
17S
127
Cyclamen
D
108, 246, 265
Dahlias
.3, 127, 128, 191, 240
Dandelions
123, 274
Delphiniums
156
Deutzia
...34.36,38
Dog's-tooth Violets
Ti
287
Daffodils
INDEX TO FLOWERS
288
PAGE
Dogwood
'
Insects
116, 14s, 223, 241
Insecticides. .116, 145,, 223, 241
Pink
Iris
"
no
E
Eulalia Japonica
205
82
177
Everblooming Roses
Evergreen Shrubs
F
Ferns
"
"
"
PAGE
110,136
Red-twigged 34, 36, 38
"
"
"
108
Jacks-in-the-pulpit
72, 161, 168
Cinnamon
Lady
74. 78
76, 78
Maidenhair
74,78
Japanese Anemones..
"
Azalea
244
117
88
Gourd
"
Iris
102, 136, 246
"
Maples
214
"
Morning-glory
88
"
Plume Grass.
205
108
Jonquils
.
.54,
Fiddleheads
Forget-me-nots
72, 78
126, 200
Foxgloves
187
G
Geraniums
Ginger,
91,
Wild
Gladioli
239
94
220, 222
Golden Bell
Golden Glow
Goldenrod
34, 103
97, 195, 229
234
Grackles
7, 92
Grapevine
10
Grasses, Ornamental.. 204, 271
Grass Seed
14, 256
H
Hardy Roses
Heliotrope
82
103, 17s, 229,
250, 269
Hen-and-chickens
Hepaticas
127
8,41,73
259
Hollyhocks .. .58, 103, 198, 200
Honeysuckle Vines. .. .88, 236
Hercules'-clubs
Humming throated
bird,
Ruby114
Hyacinths
247
Hybrid Perpetual Roses. 82
Hydrangeas
232, 240
K
Kaiserin Augusta Victoria
84,221
116
Kerosene Emulsion
Killarney Rose
84
L
Lady-bugs
116,193
Lady-fern
76, 78
Laing, Mrs. John
83
Lambkill
178
Larkspurs
97, loi, 156,
158, 239
Laurel, Mountain
Lawns
10,
118
14
127
201
no,
121
10,
Leaf-mould
Lemon Verbena
Lilacs
35,
Lilies
Lilies-of-the-valley
II
262
Lilium Album
264
"
Auratum
264
"
Candidum ....160,264
Lily, Common Pond
203
Liquidambar Styraciflua. 259
Lotus Lily
203
Luizet,
Madame
Gabriel.
83
INDEX TO FLOWERS
PAGE
78, 201
49, 82, 262
Manure
Maples, Japanese
Marechal Neil
214
145
Marshall P. Wilder..
PAGE
Poison-ivy
Poppies, California
"
Yellow
131
157
Meadow-rue
101, 156
57, 59, 66, 136,
161, 201, 229
Monthly Roses
Moonflower
82
88
Morning-glory .. .141, 215, 236
"
Japanese.. 88
Narcissus Poeticus.
.53, 108,
246, 26s
Nasturtiums
"
Climbing ..65,228,
"
236
65, 228
83
Dwarf
Neyron, Paul
O
Orchids
Oriental Poppies
..
.58, 62,
Osmunda Cinnamomea
Oswego Tea
Owl, Screech
94
134
74
214
17s, 187
Q
Quaker-ladies
106, 124
"
Rhus Cotinus
PhcEbe-birds
Pickerel-weed
....59,62,
104, 161
100, 140
"
White
Rosarium
225
80
"Rose-beds
81
Rose Bugs
200
Rose-bush, Blush..
Rose-mallow
212,229
Roses
144, 164, 250
"
Climbing
85
"
Everblooming ..82, 144,
267
"
"
Monthly ...82,144,211,
269
267, 269
Rothschild,
Baroness....
83
S
Salvia
191, 192
Seeds
Seed-bed
Screech-owl
Shirley Poppies
,
Shrubs, Evergreen
Siberian Squills
159
48
17s, 187
59, 67, 183,
185, 238
177
24,40,
245, 264
208, 212
204
88
34
Robins
144,
Drummondi
85,
Red-headed Woodpecker. 77
Rhododendrons
104,118
P
Painted Beauty
63, 148
Pansies
3, 70, 127, 190
88
Passion-flower
Peonies
98, 124, 24s
211,
Perennials .. .-.56, 97, 169,
261, 269
Perennial Vines
236
Perle des Jardins
84, 200
Petunias
15,215
Phlox
185, 238
180, 183
Portulaca
217
Prince Camille de Rohan. 83
Pussy-willows
23
Ramblers, Crimson
89
183
Oriental
58,62
Shirley... 59, 67, 183,
"
.83, 130,
Meadow-larks
Mignonette
289
Smoke-bush
INDEX TO FLOWERS
290
PAGE
Snowdrops
Soleil
d'Or
Song-sparrows
Spraying Outfit
Spruce Trees
Squirrels, Flying
11
Starling
Stocks, Ten-weeks.
181
193
138
.
.17, 109,
223
Sweet-gum Tree
259
Sweet Pea Trellis
30, 32
Sweet Peas
27,37,155
Sweet-williams
172, 220, 273
Syringa, Sweet
34, 36
168, 169,
T
Ten-weeks Stocks
17, 109,
168, 169, 223
Tobacco-water
Tool Closet
Tools
Triangle,
Map
223
19
II
of
the
facing
Tuberoses
191
Tulips
PAGE
Victor Verdier
Vines
Violets, Dog's-tooth
"
Yellow
Virginia Creepers
83
215, 236
73
94
88, 8g,
229, 237, 255
W
Wake-robin
Walks, Grass
77
See map.
Gravelled See map.
"
Watering
203
Water-lilies
Weeds
8,129,141,207
Weeping Willow
13, 257
no
Weigelia
Whippoorwill
Wichuraiana Rose
Willows
"
Pussy
Windflowers
Window-boxes
85,
12
Witch-hazel
Wood
border.
the
94
204
23
54, 75
16
45, 268
Making
106, 107, 108
Woodpecker, Red-headed.
^^
222
Worms' Nests
Wrens
Wren's Egg
20, 92
n,
61
53,246,264
246
Parrot
U
Ulrich Brunner
83
34,
36,54