The Washington critic., 1886-04-12
WASHINGTON CRITIC
WASHINGTON, APRIL 1s. 1885.
THE FLOWER GARDEN.
Hints and Helps to Those Building
Their Own Homes.


Their Own Homes.
"1f you are just building a home Of
your own" says Mrs. Pumstead in
Good Housekeeping, "plant some hardy
climbers that will live year after year
and grow old with the house. They
are natures drapory, soften hard out
lines, and clothe porch and balcony
with living green. For rapid, sturdy
growth, the Ampelopsis Quinquefolia
stands at the head. 1t can be trained
over balcony and porch, and will grow
In beauty with each succeeding year.
1t should be pruned and trained every
season after the first. Its Japanese
cousin, Ampelopsis Veitchii, does not
grow as rapidly, has smaller leaf,
handsomerin shape, clings to whatever
1t touches--wOod, stone or brick-can
be trained in any form, the foliage
drops later in fall, hanging on
into December In favored local
tiles, turns to pretty crimson,
when the leaves have dropped,
the bare branches and tendrils are
graceful and delicate. have seen It
PiuhtCu tiObO w tut Bi
Of house. and allowed to climb to the
wooden sill and stopped there, SO, when
leaved out, the house had green foun-
dation. Plant the Chinese Wisteria at
that south porch; 1t will give you large
returns in the years to come. AT first
this perfectly hardly climber is tender;
should have the ends of the growing
branches nipped in September, that the
wood may harden and enable 1t to re-
sist the cold Of its first winter; put some
fine manure around the roots to keep
them warm. All hardy vines should
have this treatment.
'Plant the honeysuckles, Japanese
and Chinese, especially Halliana, with
fine white sweet-scented flowers, from
June until hard frost This will look
well on the other side of that porch.
Don't forget the clematis; they are the
aristocracy' among climbers. Such
delicate tints Of coloring, delicate in
texture, clinging so gracefully, bloom
ing so Drofusely, they deserve the best
place in the garden. Train them on
trellis, the fence, the porch or balcony,
or where you will, they are lovely.
There are many varieties. One can
hardly 60 astray in choosing with
catalogue at hand The Trumpet vine,
japan Akebia and others, all help to
beautify our homes. The climbing
roses, not forgetting the old-fashioned
white one Of our childhood days, with
its creamy petals and crown of yellow
stamens, should not be forgotten
Their period of bloom is brief but
lovely while il lasts. While the hardy
vines are growing, tender vines can be
set out the first of June, and cover the
space where the wine of the future
will grow. Pilogyne suavis is rapid
growing tender climber. Small plants
bought In spring, set out in rich soil,
given plenty of spring water, will
cover your porch with a multitude of
dark-green glossy leaves and tiny white
flowers of slight musky flavor.
Maurandia Is q more delicate climber
in appearance, will not cover as much
space, but is fine in foliage and flower.
The common nasturtium makes o quick
show in suny place.
1.-THE old, but ever new, morning
glory has been familiar to us from
childhood. What is there that blooms
as constantly from June until frost?
What will bring such succession Of de-
lights to the children every morning
perhaps the grown children too-as
row Of morning glories running over
the back porch? The promise Of
flowers which lay enwrapped in the
twisted buds of last night have this
morning become reality, and cups Of
pink, blue and white gemmed with
dewdrops, delicate enough for fairies
to drink from, are thickly scattered
over the vines. BY noon they are gone,
but tomorrow morning will repeat the
miracle.
"The sweet pea is another old favor.
ite. / grew them for years before
knew how to do it right. They like a
deep, rich soil, to be planted early, as
soon as the ground can be worked.
Plant four inches deep, pressing the
soil over them with the hoe; plant
thickly, stick some brush, tust as you
would garden peas. They are not Or
namental planted in this manner, but
they will bloom finely all summer un-
til hard frost, provided you do not let
them 60 to seed. The more you pick,
/ -stIr