Page:Japanese Gardens (Taylor).djvu/216

142 is because, except for the flowering trees and shrubs already mentioned, the Lotus in the pond, the Irises beside it, and the Wistaria on the trellis which overhangs it, most of the flowers seen in them are in pots. Azaleas, of course, there are in plenty, but they are trimmed and cut, perhaps at the very moment of flowering, and they are grown for their greenness as much as for their blooms. These clipped shrubs are used in little gardens, to suggest hills, but, to my mind, look more like green puff-balls, generally. Examples of clipped Azaleas can be seen in the accompanying pictures. Chrysanthemums, Asters, Peonies, Lilies, Morning Glories, as well as other flowers which have been introduced from foreign countries, are all brought out in the prettiest of pots,—in blue and white, clean and fresh, or in cool pale green ones, delicious in colour.

It will be seen from the pictures—of Peonies, of Chrysanthemums , and even of specimen Irises (facing this page)—that the plants appear to have been set out as if at a flower show. The Chrysanthemums were in a tea-house garden, and had light bamboo sheds or screens over them, to protect them from the rain that might come and spoil their fluffy, curled locks. The Peonies—that is, the small variety—are never grown in the ground, although the tree sorts seen in the same picture always are. Irises are usually found in any gardens,