forecourt; on the southern, the garden. Here, next the house, is a wide
terrace, bounded on the outer side by the parapet of a retaining wall,
and next the building, by a running _guilloche_ of box-edged beds filled
with low-growing plants. The terrace has a semi-circular ending, near
the eastern wall of the house, formed of an evergreen hedge, with a
wooden seat following the same line, and a sundial at the radial point.
At the other end, the terrace ends in a flight of downward steps leading
to large green spaces, with fine trees and flowering shrubs, and
eventually to the walled gardens. Straight across the terrace from the
house is the parterre, whose centre ornament is an unusually
well-proportioned fountain of the same date as the house. It is circular
in plan, with a wide lower basin and two graduated superimposed tazzas.
From this, four cross-paths radiate; the quarters are filled mainly with
half-hardy flowers such as Gladiolus; the design being accentuated at
several points by the upright growing Florence Court Yews. The parterre
is inclosed by a low wall, backed by a clipped evergreen hedge; on the
wall stand at intervals graceful stone figures of _amorini_, identical
in character with those shown in the picture of Phlox and Daisy, and
apparently designed by the same hand.
The steps at the western end of the terrace are wide and handsome, and
are also ornamented with sculptured _amorini_. The path leads onward, at
first directly forward, but a little later in a curved line through a
region of lawn and stream, with trees and groups of flowering shrubs.
Here and there, on the grass by itself, is one of the free-growing
Roses, rightly left without any support, and showing the natural
fountain-like growth that so well displays the beauty of many of the
Roses of the old Ayrshire class and of some of the more modern ramblers.
The path passes one end of an avenue of large trees, and, after a while,
turning to the left, reaches the kitchen gardens, consisting of several
walled inclosures. One of these, of which one wall is occupied by
vineries, has been made into a flower garden, where hardy flowers,
grandly grown, are in the wide borders next the wall. A portion of such
borders, in an adjoining compartment of the garden, forms the subject of
the picture.
The inner space is divided into two squares, one having as a centre a
rustic summer-house almost hidden by climbing plants; from this
radiating grass paths pass between beds of flowers. The outer borders in
the next walled compartment are ten feet wide, and are finely filled
with all the best summer plants, perennial, annual and biennial. The
fine pale yellow _Anthemis tinctoria_ is here grown in the way this good
plant deserves, and its many companions, Hollyhocks, Delphiniums, Japan
Anemones, Phloxes and Lavender; annual Chrysanthemums, Gladiolus,
Carnations, Tritomas, and all such good things, are cleverly and
worthily used, and, with the graceful arches of free Roses and white
Everlasting Pea, make delightful garden pictures in all directions.
The garden of Abbey Leix is one of those places that so pleasantly shows
the well-directed intention of one who is in close sympathy with garden
beauty; for everywhere it reflects the fine horticultural taste and
knowledge of Lady de Vesci, who made the garden what it is.