The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-08-25
vERITAeLe HANGING GARDENS.

Feast to tho Eye.
Few houses which are provided with
either q balcony or a veranda are now
left without some attempt at floral dec
grafton for the summer, and many of
these places are veritablc 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 honeysuc<le. much
less will need to be done than where
the walls are bare, for luxuriant yvrea tbs
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 . 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 a foot
deep, well drained with crooks and
ashes, and filled with a rich light COM
post, such as that sold by the horticul-
turists as pottiug soil,
It should be borne In mind that no
plant can be expected to make fine and
rapid growth unless it is well support
supply of water, with more room for
the development of its roots thar is dc:
sirable in the case of Towering plants
in pots, where blossom is the great de-
sideratum.
Boxes, wherever used can easily be
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 a box or hanging in baskets, and
there are SO many varieties that the
shade which will harmonic we'll with
neighboring plants can easily be Sc
lected. Dark blue lobelia, golden
moneyvvort, rich bronze lace, hanging
In festoons from ''mother o thou
sands (Saxifraga sarmentosa). and the
delicate sprays of Nierenbergia graci1is
Cpale mauve and white), will all fringe
a balcony. fill basket, or hide the pots
and boxes of a group of plants in n We
randa satisfactorily; nasturtiums, too,
of the tall variety will be found very
useful, for they will grow in any aspect
and in any air, not being at all paEtic-
ular, either, in the matter of soil. while
their bright flowers ranging from deep
maroon to pale primrose. arc sure t., DO
borne in profusion.
For the central groups, opposite the
windows Tor at other salient points,,
semi-tropical foliage plants. such as
Ricinus, Gamma indica, variegated
maize (Zea japonica variegata), palms,
eucalyptus trees, and the harder drsa-
csenas should be used as a background,
with brilliant tuberous begonias, pela-
goniums, heliotrope, calceolarias, lilies,
gladiolus, and many other flowers Cin
pots hidden with moss) in front.
If stands are used they should be Of
wire in preference to wood, and the
successful effort of the whole will BIO
in proportion to the cleverness display
ed in grouping the plants and hiding
everything except them by means of
moss. virgin cork or trailing plants.
Plenty of moss will also prevent Of it
be regularly damped daily the too
rapid evaporation which tries all plants
when suspended. SO to speak, in mid
air.-Chicago Tribune.