The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-06
WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL SPOT.
WHAT THE COLONIAL PARK WILL
LOOK LIKE.

A Variety of Form and Color, with
Pleasing Features on Every Hand.
A Number of Plants Already Set
Out and the Work Going Forward
RapidIy-It VIII Take Time to Per-
feet, But the COmmissiOners BE-
Iieve Their Work VIII Meet the
Approval of the Citizens for whom
II is Done.
The work Of converting the old South
Broad street cemetery into a park is pro-
crossing rapidly under the direction Of
Mr.. Robert Berckmans of Augusta.
Already the place is beginning to assume
something Of a park-like appearance. Mr..
Berckmans has set out a large number of
plants, and the little queen cedars and
other evergreens already make a pleasant
contrast to the bare surface of the ground.
The ground will not remain bare long,
however, as the grass has already begun
to spring up, though there has been no
rain since the ground was narrowed. A
good shower and continued warm weather
will bring the grass out of the ground
like magic, and it will not be long be-
fore nature will spread a green carpet
over the whole place. The ground is
splendidly set in bermuda.
The idea pursued by Mr.. Berckmans in
placing the plants is to afford contrast
and variety at all seasons of the year.
Large numbers of cedars are being used,
of various shapes and colors. There are
several SHADES of green, yellow and brown
and some which have silvery appear
ance. Mr.. Berckmans had heard that
there were a number of goldbugs in Sa-
vannah, and he will put in several of the
Japanese gold dust plants for their bene-
fit.
Another idea carried out in the design
is to afford vistas along the walks AL
though the walks are serpentine, the
curves are slight, and a clear view can
be had on nearly all the walks fog al
most their entire length. With the va
rious shades and colors of the trees and
plants bordering the walks the vstas will
give a most pleasing effect. 1t will take
considerable time to develop the plan, as
the plants must grow before the desired
effect can be obtained.
In order to relieve the baroness of the
spot during tire first year or two, a. num-
Der or ANNALS and many Towering trees
and shrubs will be planted, such as mag
nolias, japonicas, oleanders and tea olive,
Among the new varieties introduced by
Mr.. Berckmans will be the Japanese
palms, which make a handsome appear
ance, both as bushes and trees, being OF
very slow growth The list of trees,
| proposes to put lin is too long to be re-
membered by anybody but fioricultur-
| list or a landscape gardener, but If the
| park prospers, as no doubt it will, il will
be favorite place of resort with all low
ers of plants and flowers.
Mr.. George J. Baldwin of the park anC
| tree commission, who has been given spe
cial charge of the work, takes a deep in
| terest in 1t and spends
| good part of every day with
| in the park He believes that the people
| of Savannah are far enough advanced in
| civilization to appreciate such a WORK
| of art and nature as the new park will
| be, as we'll as its historic interests, anC
| that they will cooperate with the com
| mission in preserving it's attractions. He
| does not believe it will take long tC
create a public sentiment which will visit
severe condemnation~on any vandal who
| does injury to the shrubs or flowers The
| commission will keep a watch for suci
| people, and will punish to the full extent
| of the law any person who commits any
| such act
The old brick wall around the cemetery
| MIR. Baldwin says, will be kept standinl
| get their growth and the place assume:
a park-like aspect. 1t will probably b.
removed within the next two months
! though The removal of the wall viii
! give the effect of making the park APP
| pear much larger than it really is, as the
| view will embrace the width of Soutf
| Broad street, on the north, and Abercorr
street, on the west.