The San Francisco call., 1896-07-26
Window Gardens 7
In San Francisco
A Pleasant Domestic
Occupation That
Beauties the
Street


have come to imagine that flowers and
decorative plants need gardener to grow
them, there can be no doubt that the
pleasing art of window gardening is badly
neglected in this City. To be sure one
sees in almost every house few potted
flowers, few geraniums perhaps and one
or two other plants, but too often these
bits of naturs's own decoration are stunted
and wholly devoid of the loveliness of
flowers. Here and there an unsightly box
from the grocery-store, beside empty to-
mato cans, all in row, and each with its
poyerty-stricken plant, stuck upon a shelf
or a windowsill, form much of the bad at
tempts at window gardening. They are
to be seen wherever one goes in San Fran
cisco, and it is a positive relief to come
upon an occasional successful effort in
beautifying the home with flowers Moth
ing could be more lovely than these dis
plays of foliage and blossoms that tell
their own story - always and ever the
same, of kindly, intelligent nurse, and a
story of good taste and refinement.
In city like San Francisco where the
gardens bloom on all sides summer and
winter alike and where the love of flowers
is strongly impressed on those who give
the subject any thought a really striking
contrast is presented by the flower and
window gardens. There is some kind of
belief that boxes of flowers in windows in
jure wooden houses-that is, trailing plants
destroy the paint. and water escaping
from the boxes helps to decay the wood
work. And this same popular falIacy
deters many a Householder from setting
out some floral gems in boxes or in pots
either. AS fer climbing plants they are
out of the question with such people. A
little attention to the proper drainage of
boxes will prevent any injury to the wood
work of the house. All that is needed is a
drain hole or pipe near the outside of the
box. Such a queer opinion has had its
effect undoubtedly upon thousands who
sacrificed their little window gardens for
fear of the paint. With this difficulty dis
posed of it is difficult to understand why
San Francisco should not be noted far and
near for the beauty and splendor of her
window gardens.
The conditions are peculiarly favorable
to such displays in a very superior form.
There is no frost to speak of, no changes
OF temperature sufficient to nip delicate
flowers in their bloom, no intense sun to
wither them IN summertime. But, on the
contrary, barring the strong winds, there
blossom all the year long.
If you would ask for proof of this as
sertion in favor of San Francisco look
around at any time and see the brilliant
flashes of color from porch and window
sill, and the restful, delicate palms and
luxurious exotics behind the glass. And
if these are too few and far between they
only serve to strengthen the impression
that San Francisco is the home of window
flowers.
In many instances lack of knowledge
appears to have more bearing on the
scarcity of window gardens than lack of
interest. People will say, whats the
use? don't know how to grow flowers in
pots. They all die on me-" One or two
failures give experience, and then with
care and common-sense and word of ad-
vice from some friend who understands
Horticulture it will be easy work to make
your window the admiration of all who
pass by. The gardener in charge of the
Golden Gate Park conservatories Illus
trated this very clearly when he said re-
Gently:
SLadies come out here all the time and
ask me for information. They say their
palms and potted plants die. and they
want to know what to do for them. They
buy palms and decorative foliage plants
and in a month or two the plants wither
and die.
'These ladies either drown the plants or
let them wither for want of water, or
throw them around like bits of furniture.
in the shade now, in the sun next; then
in draught and again in room over
heated by fire. Some of them have come
back. They like to see the conservatory
displays, and if they meet me they say
their palms and other potted plants give
no more trouble, and it was so simple it
surprised them"
The cost of starting bounteous win
dow garden should be no obstacle in the
way of the novice, for it is practically lit
tie or nothing and certainly the game is
worth the candle.
The variety of boxes depends on the in
genuity and versatility of the designer.
For instance, common little box from
the drugstore or grocery may be made at
tractive by covering its front and sides
with bark or sticks laid side by side rs a
veneer; or again by building up about it
: rows of straight shoots of trees in the
fashion of Iog-cabin architecture. Boards
roughly sawed and nailed together make
a good window box when covered on front
and ends with iinoleum.
If stylish box is desired one can buy
those fancy tiles for tri1e and have them
fastened on the front and ends by a small
frame of molding For novelty an- irni-
tation fence, either rustic or rail, or picket.
gives pleasing effect and serves the
double purpose of railing in pots or
boxes and hiding whatever shortcomings
they may have. However, If the best eff
feet with most satisfactory results Is de-
sired plain box painted green must be
used.
'Window-gardening should be encour-
aged here" remarked Superintendent
John McLaren of Golden Gate Park the
other day when asked for his views on the
subject. 1--WE have found from experience
here in the park that ALMOST all flowers
will do well in the open air. As for win
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