MY LADYS GARDEN GARDENING - PREFACE - THERE has ever been a halo of romance around my Ladys Garden. Since the ancicnt days of chivalry, when brave knights and fair ladies paced in pleached wayes amidst gilliflowers and rosemary-throughout the centuries in which parterres were surrounded by ancient yews cut into many quaint devices-until the present time, women have not failed to love flowers, and to tend and cherish them as they knew how. But the knowledge of horticulture has increased during the last quarter of a century with great rapidity, and with it the interest which we all now take in our gardens. Moreover, the opening of China and Japan to the Western world, the construction of the Suez Canal, and the power of steam, have combined to enable us to bring safely from the ends of the earth many valuable plants which were quite unknown to our forefathers. The gardens of the twentieth century, therefore, should be more beautiful than ever and to those who love their flowers, and take a personal interest in them, this book is offered. I. L. R. -- CONTENTS -- CHAPTER I PAGE FIRST WEEK I N JANUAR . Y . I Arranging a Garden. CHAPTER I1 SECONWD EEK I K JANUARY 9 Nature Awakening-Amaryllids. , , CHAPTER 111 THIR W D E EK I N JANUARY. 19 Flowers in Winter-Birds in Winter. CHAPTER IV FOURTHW EEK I N JANUARY 29 The Cool Greenhouse. CHAPTER V FIRST WEEK IN FEBRUARY 39 Bulbs in Bowls. CHAPTER V1 Freesias and Forced Shrubs. vii CONTENTS CHAPTER V11 PAGE Gesneraceae. CHAPTER V111 FOURTHW EEK I N FEBRUARY . 67 Lilies in the Garden. CHAPTER IX FIRST WEEK IN MARCH . Rare Irids. CHAPTER X SECONWD EEK IN MARCH . 83 Sowing Seeds. CHAPTER XI THIR W D E EK IN MARCH . 93 The Herbaceous Garden in Spring. CHAPTER XI1 FOURTHW EEK I N MARCH . 103 Roses under Glass-Room Plants. CHAPTER XIII Spring Window-boxes. viii CONTENTS CHAPTER XIV PAGE SECONWD EEK I N APRIL . . 123 The Bog Garden. CHAPTER XV THIR W D E EK I N APRIL . I 3 3 The Water Garden. CHAPTER XVI FOURTH WEEK IN APRIL . 145 The Rock Garden-Summer Birds Return. CHAPTER XVII FIRST WEEK IN MAY . 5 5 Birds Overture to Spring-The Wild Garden. CHAPTER XVIlI SECONDW EEK I N MAY . . 165 Carnations. CHAPTER XIX THIR W D E EK I N MAY . I75 Irises. CHAPTER XX Herbaceous Plants. ix CONTENTS CHAPTER XXI PAGE FIRST WEEK IN JUNE . I95 The Rose Garden. CHAPTER XXII SECONDW EEK I N JUNE . . 205 Basket Plants and Garden Bulbs. CHAPTER XXIII THIR W D E EK I N JUNE . . 213 The British Garden. CHAPTER XXIV FOURTH WEEK IN JUNE . Arches of Roses and Clematis. CHAPTER XXV FIRST WEEK IN JULY . . 231 Liliums. CHAPTER XXVI SECONWD EEK I N JULY . . 241 A Hardy Abutilon, and How to Pack Flowers. CHAPTER XXVII THIR W D E EK IN JULY ...