It is attractive to interrupt the rigid lines of walls with vines, a shrub or two, especially at the corners or angles, or in the case of a dry wall, with a few rock plants. Their turn bling mats of foliage and color are always pleasing. But there must be no overplanting. A wall should not be completely cluttered up with "green draperies." Most vines, left to their own devices, rush to the top of the fence or wall and tumble over in an abandoned, luxuriant manner. If they are trained by wires or staples, they create interesting patterns, which can then be maintained by pruning, particularly the espaliered fruits, grapes, and many roses.

Fences and Latticework

Fences can also provide definiteness of line and enclosure. The type of fence depends on the character of the house and the elegance of the garden. For the Colonial or Georgian house, a picket fence is charming, although it does not give the protection or the segregation of a fence with wider pal ings, or one of wattle construction. These are more informal, but by attention to the construction of posts, the shape, size, and interval of the paling, and the painting or finish, such fences can also be made appropriate to a formal scheme.

Latticework may be designed in a variety of forms. When used for enclosure, it should never be flimsy. Nothing is more distressing in a garden than a sagging or falling lattice. Lat ticework also requires painting. A neutral color that blends with plants and does not call undue attention to itself is better than glaring white. Soft greens, browns, gray, or cream whites are all good.

We are, of course, discussing latticework as enclosure, not decoration. Too often stray bits of lattice with or without vines find their way into gardens, where they add nothing to the composition. A few well-designed wall lattices may break the severity of a wall, but they should be used sparingly and only where they belong. When a house is near the garden or forms one of its boundaries, lattices can be used on the house itself to add grace and charm, and help the building blend into the garden.

Partial Enclosure

Theoretically it is desirable to enclose the flower garden completely and thus separate it from the surrounding land scape; practically this is not always possible, so we resort to partial enclosure. Objectionable or competing views must be screened out, and sufficient enclosure provided to define the shape of the garden and hold the pattern together. Otherwise the composition flies to pieces.