Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-29
PARKS IN LONDON
How Their Attractiveness as Resorts is
Increased.
The Flowers and Foliage Plants
Which Are Disqualification
Stretches of Green Lawns.
Joseph Meehan in Country Gentleman.

One day toward the close Of June took
a run through three of tho London parks,
namely, Battersea, Victoria and Finsbury.
These are wide apart, but having friend
with me quite at home in London, we were
able to visit the three in one day. The
drouth before spoken Of still continued SO
that the flower beds were suffering very
much, Notwithstanding the evident efforts
being made to supply them with water
artificially. In all the parks that 1 have
seen a great deal Of attention has been
paid to creating beautiful natural scene.
There are good roads, masses Of shrubs
and trees and broad stretches of lawn, but
little different from well-kept country
residence.
The boundary roads and paths are nearly
always heavily flanked with shrubs and
trees, and often with border Of herba-
ceous plants between the path and the
shrubs. Along some of the wide drives
shrubs have been used in clumps, but all
set close enough together to form a con-
tinuous line of green.
These parks have lakes in their midst in
which are usually several small islands,
heavily wooded always and proving a nice
shelter for the many web-footed occupants
of the water. Boats are for hire at these
places, but when used their occupants are
rot permitted to land on the islands. The
white flowers of the elderberry were con-
spicuous on many of these islands, as were
those of a herbaceous plant Of tall growth,
the Heracleum giganteum, an umbelltfer
GUS plant, well suited to the situation. The
two polygonums mentioned above We're al
so here, flourishing finely in damp places
near the waters edge: and here, too, either
naturally or artificiaily planted, We're lots
of the colts foot, Tussilago farfara, form
Ing green ground to the shrubs and trees.
matrlmOnV
seems well in place, forming a low, dense
mass of green. There were many clumps
OF the dog rose, Rosa Gamma, and these
were full of the single light pink flowers.
Battersea Park is a favorite place for
women bicyclists At the time of my visit
the broad roadways were thronged with
them. But few gentlemen riders were
there, though plentiful enough elsewhere.
I have seen the weeping elm and weeping
ash in much better shape in these parks
and in other grounds here than have seen
them with US. They are gra fled high, say
at eight to nine feet from the ground, so
that as they grow they form a beautiful
and cozy arbor. They are much used in all
cemeteries For the covering of buildings
the common ivy is most used: next to it
our Virginia creeper. The vine so univer-
sally used with US, Ampelopsis veitchii, is
SEEM but not to great extent.
The Plants Used.
The bedding in these parks is looked on
Of summer. There are not too many OF
these beds. The greensward, leafy trees
and natural scenes predominant. What
beds there are add to the charm, without
giving too artificial look to the whole /
am afraid the plants used ia many of them
could not be turned to the same purpose
in ours our greater heat forbiddng it, but
I will mention what few of the beds con-
tanned. There was bed of double Powered
fuchsias with yellow pansies between
them, and having for an edging Coleus
verschaffelti. Another had scarlet gerani-
ums, with variegated corn interspersed and
edged with variegated-leaved geraniums. A
third Rad for its base white pansies, with
red-fowered fuchsias interspersed. and for
an edging blue lobela. Another was of
Coleus verschaffelti, dotted with white
fuchsias. Following this was one of tall
fuchsias caIpeted with a dwarf, one called
golden gem. A bed which l would like to
see later had as a groundwork Plumbago
capensis. with plants of Erythrina crista
GALL standing well above them; row of
Coleus verschlffelti was outside these, and
for an edgfng was Echeveria secunda
Elauca. A bed of Mrs. Harrison Weir. a
bronze geranium, was intermIxed with Gre
vilea robusta, and edged with blue and
lilac pansies and blue lobelias.
Most of these beds We're in Victoria Park,
which, am told. contains 200 acres There
is large conservatory. which is a great
attraction In the Writer season when out
side flowers are at an end. At the present
time the plants in bloom were of common
kinds, but nicely arranged, SO that visitors
found much to admire. Finsbury Park.
which is on the north of London, is
quite elevated ground, affordng fine views
for miles around. The general features of
1t are the same as of the others. 1 saw
here an avenue lined with fine trees of our
Carolina poplar, and nicely the trees SEEM
ed to suit the situation. There was not the
too rapid growth 1t makes at home, and 1t
Hr-.ac crNra Ifyao how fha free
in other places here behaving in the same
way. Perhaps. too, in this cooler climate
1t will hold its foliage later in the season
than it does with us.
Play Ground for the Children.
In all these and other parks ample space
is afforded for recreation grounds. There
is the field for cricket and other games,
and there is the place for children. and
even one for young children under twelve
years of age, where older ones are not per-
mitted, and all the grounds are constantly
filled with occupants. These parks seem to
have been well wooded, as a rule, before
they were used as they are, for they con-
tain very large trees, mostly of the En-
glish oak. which. by the way, makes a no.
be round-headed, spreading tree. Shade
trees alb out dwellings. We have them,
are unknown here, nor ere streets lined
with trees, as many are with US. OF course,
though 1T adds to the beauty of a city, We
plant to screen ourselves from the sun,
which is not so essential here: though /
am sure, We're the heat of this summer to
be the rule here, there would be call for
shade trees. The thermometer has ranged
above so degrees for day or two past.
and it has been warm for weeks, using
warm" in its American sense.
Having an hour to spare on another day
in London, l went out of my way a little
to see the Thames embankment and its
pretty little gardens near Waterloo bridge.
Small these gardens are, the most pos
sible has cen made of them. Trees and
shrubs planted some years ago have grown
up and now afford cool retreats and shade;
and it was pleasure to see little children
getting the fresh air in such pretty places
in the heart of London. And drinking
fountains are there, as they are in all parts
of England, with all conveniences for the
public. Along the embankment drive are
two rows of plane trees, one on each side.
The trees are already of good size, and in
time will be conspicuous feature of the
place.
Richmond Park, near Mortlake, is place
worth visiting. 1t is crown land, 1 under
stand, and is maintained by the govern
ment. 1t was evening when l saw it-near
pm, in fact-but here at this season It
is not quite dark at any time of the night,
and at it is quite light. This park, indeed,
was an immense tract of sward and trees.
And some of the groves of trees were
grand. Containing hundreds of trees each.