St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-12
PARK BOARD FLOWER BEDS WILL
BE MADE IN SPECIAL DE-
SIGNS
IN RESPECT TO THE, G. A. R.
WELCOME NOTICES WILL BE CON-
sPICUOUs DESIGNS IN THE DEC
CREATIONS ALSO.
In the AdOrnment of It's Fresh Air
Corners and Public Parks
This Summer.

''The flowers that bloom in the spring will
soon make their appearance in the city parks.
About a month hence the work of planting
them will begin, under the supervision of
Superintendent of Parks Mussbaumer The
decorations will be especially elaborate this
season, as they will comprise not only the
flower beds which adorn the parks every sum-
mer, but also large number of appropriate
designs in honor of the national G. A. R, en-
campment, to be held here the first week in
September.
Those who have stopped to admire during
past seasons the taste and skill manifested in
the arrangement of the floral decorations the
selection of flowers and plants and the de-
signs OF the flower beds may have thought
that the city engaged experts to actually per-
form the work. Many would be surprised to
learn that the actual work is really done by
common laborers The only expert is the
superintendent of parks. The board of park
commissioners has adopted this system on the
principle that too many cooks spoil the broth
AS Supt. Mussbaumer explains it:
''lf the board employed experts to lay out the
flower BEDS the city would have to pay them
at least $3.50 a day piece, whereas common
laborers are secured for half that amount
But that is not the vital objection. If the
work were entrusted to experts it would be
difficult to control them. They would have
their own ideas and the work would not be
accomplished as readily and in as satisfactory
manner as it is by men who simply follow
instructions. Under the present system the
park board employs about fifteen men for this
work, including transfers and all other help
and they complete the floral decorations about
the first of July"
The special decorations in honor of the G. A.
K. encamDment will necessitate another
months work. 1t is proposed to adorn the
principal parks with a number of designs
representing national emblems, as we'll as the
various corps badges of the G. A. R. These
designs will be placed in Como park, Rice
park and Central park
Foliage plants are to be employed for this
purpose as they are far more effective and
lasting than flowers. Tiny andqtimfd as most
OF these short plants are, they bear long
| and unpronounceable names such as Echi-
Yerias, Sandalinas, Althernatheras and a
score Of other titles, knownssonly ats those
Versed in botanical nomenclature. Such de-
signs as Supt. Nussbaumer proposes to ex-
hlplt IN Como park could not be represented
effectively by flowers For instance. there
Will be three designs representing stacks of
arms, placed in conspicuous locations Field
pi'oes VIII also be stationed in prominent
places. They will be of full size. and the
plants will be selected with view to pro-
duoing a resemblance not only in form but
IN color to the real objects represented. For
theSe Foliage plants possess all the hues of
the rainbow and many more.
The most conspicuous design that will fill
the eyes of the veterans as they enter Como
park Will be monster American eagle, stand
ing on pedestal six or eight feet in height.
Of
measure ten feet from tip to tip.
The decorations of the grass plats sur
rounding the city hall and court house will
be exceedingly attractive. The plat at the
left of the Wabasha street entrance will be
ornamented with flower beds while in the
center, beautiful foliage plants will say: est
Paul Greets the G. A. r. Similar decora-
lions will adorn the plot on the right side of
the entrance, in the midst of which will ap-
pear the greeting: &C A. R. Welcome to
Minnesota" The two vases in these en-
closures will be filled with beautiful plants
around which vines will be entwined Flow
ering shrubbery about the borders of the
grass plats will complete the decorations
The enclosure on the southeast corner, oppo-
site the old Globe building, will be ornament
ed with flowers and plants in like manner.
Rice park and Central park will receive
their share of decorations, including flower
beds, plants and designs of corps badges Of
which there are twenty-one. 1t is not likely
that any designs will be displayed in Smith
park though it will be literally adorned
with flowers and shrubbery. Supt. Nuss-
banner says that it would never do to place
designs in Smith park, as it Is frequented by
mere dogs than people. 1t is the popular re-
sort in the city for the canine tribe and if
designs were located there, they could not
be protected, except by the use of wire
screens, which destroy the effect of designs
There will be attractive floral displays at
Carpenter, Lafayette and Irvine parks, which
will be redolent with geraniums, pansies and
petunias 1t may not be a matter of common
knowledge that considerable ingenuity, as we'll
as artistic genius, is exercised in grouping the
flowers planted in the park beds. They are so
arrang q that the spectator, viewing a flower
bed fron distance is sensible of only one
general color, say pink or white while gazing
upon it from point on the other side he
thinks that the dominant color is red or blue
The general planting of flowers plants and
shrubbery will be completed during the first
part of July. At least it has heretofore been
finished by that time. Then Supt Muss--
banner will set the men at work on the G. A.
r. designs. The superintendent expects to ac-
| ccmplish this within three or four weeks or
about Aug. 1. The plants will thus have ample
time to grow, so that the designs will present
a rich and permanent appearance by the time
the veterans arrive