Evening journal., 1888-05-22
BEAUTIFUG PLANTS.
wiiminaton's Gardens and CIIraAh-
Ing Vauea


In any city Of .its siza 10 spite of there being
so little IN the way Of city parks or gar
dens 70 foster and encourage the same. The
managers Of the Peninsula Horticultural
7 Society have taken a step in the right direc
ton, and It ia probable that ths premiums
offered will hring out the finest exhibition
OF the products OF the garden and green
house ever seen ia Wilmington.
The gardens of the well to-do displsy
taste Ia arrangement and selection. There
is temptation among certain Of the
wealthy classes who are lacking ia good
taste, to maka q lavish display OF blooming
/ plants In every available spot In their gar
deus or yards; but this is rarely found in
Wilmington. For the most part, the flower
beds have good setting OF green sward
about them and are not too plentiful. The
/ love for flowers is universal. In the win
dows OF the hnmblest houses In tho least
preteutious districts OF Wilmington, it ia no
uncommon thing to see pct plants blooming
and hourishing most vigorously. Iudeed
/ Il can be said thas more interest is taken by
/ this class In their house planta, than by those
who have well filled conservatories,
watched over by professional gardeners
Their plants represent bard earned savi ugs
or weeks OF care and attention 10 growing
them from slips. The advent OF every
bud and hlossom is hailed with delight. and
/ its progress to mature development noted
with interest
% the porches and walls OF some Of the
older residences, vines Of various kinds
hsvs climbed and run rampant for years,
and IN their season OF bloom or LEAKAGE be-
coma objects OF beauty and pleasure.
The Chinese and American wisteries are
favorites in the older sections Of the city.
The knarled and twisted old vines are now
| loaded with their dropping rscmees OF
fragrant purple flowers hanging from many
arbors, porches or fences. In yard on
West street vine OF considerable age has
climbed the trunk Of tall maple tree
from the top OF which the flowers appear
as II belonging to the tree. A popularity
Of the Chinese variety Of wis,sria is its
habit OF blooming before the foliage ap-
pears. IL takes young plants two years to
become established aud begin the vigorous
growth and bloom that characterlzss the
species. The English ivy has
been grown es a covering for bare and
ugly walls and a festoon TO ornament
ruins, from time immemoriaL No more
satisfactory vine for the purpose ia known.
II ciiDRs to stone or brick walls with grest
tenacity and makes an evergreen covering
OF deep and beautiful green. Ano ther
Importation, the English sparrow. finds the
thickly matted stsms OF this vine most
desirable shelter ard resting place. The
birds often bscome chatseriug and unbear-
able nuisances
Fine specimens Of Ampalopsis Qninque-
folis, the native Virginia creeper, can he
eesn on porcbes and walls here aud there
It climbs in the same manner az the ivy,
by roots thrown out from the stems. Its
foliage is Fighter in form and
color than the ivy and being
deciduous, shedding it's leaves In winter. il
il not such herbor 10 aparrows as the
former. species Of ampelopsis from
Japan with finer and more graceful foliage
than the American variety. Is much used
now for covering walls II has become a
great favorite in many northern oifies.
In Boston, where IL was first introduced, ib
has become so popular that it has received
the common name Of Boston Ivy. At
Ninth and jackson Sts. the use OF this vine
has transformed the brick walls OF a
house 10 walls Of beautiful living green.
The cool weather has kept the planting
Of flower gardens back, and what has been
planted show the effects Of the cool nights
The activity in the flower market. at 9th
sRud King Sts., however pressges a success.
fol season to the florists who sell there. It
10 ths only part of the market devoted 10
things on which to feast the eye and pot the
palate, and no part is better pstronizsd
The western part Of the city abounds in
well kept yards and grounds A close cut
velvety lawn seems to be the rule out Dell
aware Ave. The hower beds 10 most cases
seem to be confined to the sideo or back ward
A little more color in the front would be
OF advantage and relieve the handsome
mouotony OF green lawns. At Delaware
Ave. and Tatnan St. is yard containing
hne. vigorous rose bushes, full OF plump
buds which will soon open into mas Of
brilliant color and fragrant bloom In
another yard is q large clump Of Dav
Lilies, which promise to scent the air with
their perfume this summer Near the sth
/ 81. park is a circular bed Of century plants
planted In crossed lines over sbe bed, divid.
log 1t into quarters Flowering plants will
probably be planted in the vacant spsces
later to the season. A terrace 10 another
section Of she city. is hnnaysuekle, twined
and matted thicklY together. In some
yards, plauts carefully kept through the
winter, have been set out, many with
usksd, leansss stalks. Tbess apparently
useless plants recuperate in shc natural air
and sunshine and bloom fairly wsll, but
young and vigorous plants are more prolific
in HiEs and profusion OF bloom.
The edges Of many porches and ths tops
Of porch ratings are beautifully orns-
nentsd with boxes Of growing plants.
Al ons house red geraniums occupy the
box; at another psnsies. and at q third an
assortment Of Towering plants. The season
Of bloom for bedding plants comes during
she warm summer months. As yet all are
small IN rize and meaere in bloom; later,
The beauties OF Wilmington gardens viii
invite and probably beggar description.
Municipal COurt.