Where it is possible, flower gardens should be so located as to be shaded from the afternoon sun. Elaborate beds are to be avoided unless one has abundant time to devote to their care. An endless variety of simple designs for beds can be arranged, and the simpler the better for the effect, unless much elaboration can be afforded.

Spade the beds very deep and mix manure, sand, and rotted leaves with the soil, raising them very little above the surface.

For borders, use brick set edgewise, large, smooth pebbles, or narrow planking. Strips of turf, if the grass is kept well clipped, also make a pretty border.

Well-sodded mounds, topped with low flowers, look quite pretty, but in dry weather they are very liable to dry out, and need abundance of water.