The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-21
VERITABlE HANGING GARDENS.
How 1t Is Possible tn Have Balconies .
Feast to the Eye

Feast to the Eye.
Few houses which are provided with
either balcony or a veranda are now
left without some attempt at floral dec
grafton for the summer, and many of
these places are veritable changing
gardens most delightful, even TO those
who pass by them, while their owner
is also cheered and refreshed by the
fragrance and beauty of fresh flowers.
Where there are permanent creepers,
such as Virginia creepers, white jas
mine, wisteria, or hOneysuckle, much
less will need TO be done than where
the walls are bare, for luxuriant wreaths
Of greenery are necessary as a back
ground to flowers, and where there is
iron-work TO be covered it is impossible
to have too many creepers.
Many choose n single variety for a
balcony, the bright blossoms of scarlet
or purple showing TO good advantage
above the green leaves of the creepers
that hang like drapery over the stone
or iron work of the balcony. All these
creepers do best in boxes about n foot
deep, we'll drained with crooks and
ashes, and filed with rich light COM
post, such as that sold by the hOrtieul-
turists as potting soil.
Ii should be borne in mind that no
plant can be expected to make fine and
rapid growth unless il is web support
ed both by a rich soil and a plentiful
supply Of water, with more room for
the development of its roots than is de-
sirable in the case of Towering plants
in pots, where blossom is the great de-
sideratum.
Boxes, wherever used. can easily be
hidden by an arrangement of flower
ing plants in pots these being covered
with moss. kept in place by a strip of
wire netting, or hidden by trailing
plants round their edge. IVY leaved
geraniums are excellent trailers, both
from box or hanging in baskets, and
there are so many varieties that the
shade which will harmonic well with
neighboring plants can easily be Sc
lected. Dark blue lObelia, golden
moneywort, rich bronze lace, hanging
in festoons from mother % thou
sands (Saxifraga sarmentosal, and the
delicate sprays Of NierenberCia gracilis
tpale mauve and whitcj VIII all fringe
a balcony, ill basket. or hide the pots
and boxes of a groupof plants in a We
randa satisfactorily; nasturtiuus. too,
of the tall variety viii be found veAy
useful, for they will grow in any aspect
and in any air, not being at ali psrtic-
ular, either, in the matter Of soil. while
their bright flowers ranging from deep
maroon to pale primrose, are sure to 10
borne in profusion.
For the central groups opposite the /
windows Tor at other salient points. |
semi-tropical foliage plants, such a.
Ricinus, Gamma indica. variegated !
maize Yea japonica variegatal. palms, /
eucalyptus trees. aad the harder dra- |
cenas should be used as a background. /
with brilliant tuberous begoniss, pela- /
gouiurns. heliotrope. calceolarias. lilies, !
gladiolus, and many other flowers in 1
pots hidden with moss ia front
II stands are used they should be Of 4
wire in preference 20 wood, and The 4
successful effort Of the whole VIII be I
in proportion % the cleverness display /
ed IN grouping the plants and hiding !
everything except them By means * 1
moss. virgin cork or trailing plants
Plenty of moss win also prevent ~ . /
% regularly damped daily The too
rapid evaporation which tries all plants
when suspended. 80 % SPEAK, IN md
Tribune