Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-08-03
vERlTAsLE HANGING GARDENS



Few houses which are provided with
either balcony or a veranda are now
left without some attempt at floral dec.
)ration for the summer, and many OF
these places are ve1itable hanging
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 honeySuclSle, much
less will need to be done than where
the walls are bare, for luxuriAnt wrcaths
of greenery are necessary as back
ground to flowers, and where there is
iron-work to be covered it is impossible
to have too many creepers.
Many choose a 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 ston
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 rich light com.
post such as that sold by the horticul,
turists as potting soil.
1t should be borne in mind that nc
plant can be expected to make fine and
rapid growth unless it is well support
ed both by a rich soil and 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 lcaveC
geraniums are excellent trai!ers, botl
from box or hanging in baskets, anC
there are SO many varieties that the
shade which will harmonic well will
neighboring plants can easily be Sc
lccted. Dark blue lobelia, colder
moneywort, rich bronze lace, hanging
in festoons from mother o thou
sands" (SaXifraga sarmentosa), and the
delicate sprays of Nierenbergia gracili
pale mauve and white, will all firing,
"a balcony, fill a basket, or hide the pot
and boxes of group of plants in We
randa satisfactorily; nasturtiums, too
of the tall variety will be found yer,
useful, for they will grow in any aspec
and in any air, not being at all partic
ular, either, in the matter of soil, Will
their bright flowers ranging from dee
maroon to pale primrose, are sure to b
borne in profusion,
For the central groups, opposite tn
windows Tor at other salient points,
,emi-tropical foliage plants, such a
2icinus, Gamma indica, variegate,
maize (Zea japonica variegata), palms
eucalyptus trees, and the harder dra
aHnas should be used as background
with brilliant tuberous begonias, pela
goniums, heliotrope calceolarias, lilies
gladiolus, and many other flowers iii
pots hidden with moss in front.
If stands are used they should be O
wire in preference to wood, and tn
successful effort of the whole will b
in proportion to the cleverness display
ed in grouping the plants and hidin
everything except them by means o
moss, virgin cork or trailing plants
Plenty of moss will also prevent (if
De regularly damped daily the to
'apid evaporation which tries all plant
when suspended, SO to speak, in mi
slr.-Chieago Tribune.