Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-11-29
NO. 2Sl.
Misfellaneous.
MY BAY WINDOWS.

| l call them my bay windows with GER
tain sense of pride and satisfaction. for |
am sure they were evolved from the depths
of my own "inner consciousness" rs
learned people say. ard am little proud
of the fact, rs well as quite satisfied with
their appearance. l will describe them
as briefly as possible, thinking that some
of the Cabinet readers NAV be tempted to
experiment in the same direction. with. l
hope. the same result. The west side of
our old brown farmhouse was trial to
me from the first dav saw il. now nearly
three years ago. until the day when the
bright ideas that ended in nv bay windows
suggested themselves. No tree. shrub.
nor vine threw the "shadow OF shade"
upon its dull. square surface. and through
the hot long afternoons of our first sum-
mer therein the sunlight streamed in at
the two large windows of our dining-room
in ANYTHING but an agreeable manner.
1t was not till late in the fall that first
thought of my plan, but began prepara-
tons forthwith. l had bed spaded up
under each window of the same shape as
a bay window. but about n foot larger
each way, and very rich with decomposed
stable manure and wagon load of leaf
mould from the neighboring woods. Then
with basket and trowel | visited these
same woods. not once but many times I;
each time returning with two or three
cluhps of ferns and as much mold as
would cling to the slender rootlets.
This was after we had had such frosts
that the leaves had dropped and faded. but
deep down in the fern-hearts were the
folded fronds of next seasons growth.
These roots set carefully in each bed
till they were filed. with the exception of
strip about eight inches wide around the
outside. and over them spread few bas-
kets of withered leaves raked from the
lawn.
The foundation for my windows was
now finished. and waited patiently for
the spring to complete my building. One
stormy day in March | took my husband
into confidence, and in one short after
noon he made the necessary framework
for both windows. aHl#
Each frame was of the size and shape
Of a bay-window roof and was made OF
light two-inch stuff,-scantling. think he
called it.-with brace each side where It
was to he placed against the house. These
frames were unplaned and unpainted, and
a rDw of shinglc-nails. about an inch apart,
was driven part way through the strips
that were to join the house. and a similar
row in the strips that represented the
caves
Early in May they were placed in posi-
ton. one over each window, and fastened
to the side of the house with large screws
five being all that was necessary for
each frame. Then border OF similar
shape, but of heavier material. was placed
around the ferns in my beds below. to
answer the double purpose Of keeping
them within bounds and of fastening the
ends of twine that. starting on the upper
rows of shingle-nals, were twisted around
those on the make-beieve caves. and then
brought down to the framework below.
When this was done my windows did
certainly present very peculiar appear
ance. and many were the glances that
passers-by directed towards this new fea-
ture in building. This did not disturb
me. however. and with large supply OF
faith and patience, stirred afresh the rich
dark mould around the edges Of my fern
beds and sowed my seeds. "i
In one put double row of conpoluuius
major, and a few roots of Madeira vine
close to the cords upon which expected
them to climb, and for border trans
planted lot OF Seeding pansies from the
hot bed. For the other had seeds OF
tropGOium majns--mixed colors-a and n
similar border of panses.
BY the middle of July. scarcely ves-
| tige of either framework was visible, and
they were veritable bay windows, only
roofs as well as sides were covered with n
tangled mass of vines and flowers. The
one over which the convOlvulus was
trained was in the long forenoons sight
worth seeing. with It's hundreds of richly
colored-could anything he more appro-
pirate than the old time name Of morning
| glories ?-and in the afternoons the cool.
fresh green OF the leaves were refreshing
| to the eyes.
| All day the other was brilliant with
many shades of scarlet, yellow and brown.
while the pansies bordering both blossomed
as pansies will when supplied with rich
soil and partial shade.
| As seen from the inside also. nv win.
dows were a decided success, and every
time the sashes were opened there stole in
TO the room that, to me most delicious ol
all scents, the faint fragrance born OF
leaves.
To add one other charm pair of rob.
bins built their nest and reared their young
in one Of the braces under the shelterine
vines, thus forming newer failing source
of amusement to the childsen OF the house
After the first frost half an hour.
work sufficed to take down the frames and
put them under cover fof another season
and remove the withereI vines, leaving
the ferns and pansics in full possession. Il
is needless to say that they were fresh ant
beautiful for some weeks longer, for pan
sizes will stand severe frosts, and so will
ferns. if they are shaded from the rays o.
the morning sun.
The only change made in the window.
last summer was. to have hanging -baske
in the centre Of each, choosing for then
such plants AS do well in the shade. I had
had them hang low enough to water then
easily from the room, and they were
great improvement. In one had Grim
son and white fuchsia for centre-piece
and surrounded with clusters of ferns, be
tween which tucked several slips O
German ivy; and in the other / had Be
gonia Weltoniensis and dropping trades
cantia vines. The baskets, (home- made