Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21
FLORIST DOES THE REST
WHEN MILADY WANTS A READY
To-BLooM GARDEN.
She Gives the Order and the Result
is Generally Salts
factory.


This is just the season when many
woman wakes to "a realization that she
wants a garden-that she wanted one all
spring, but somehow has forgotten such
trifies as enriched earth, seed and planting.
She looks with envy at the wiser virgin
next door who has tidy array of sprout-.
ing plants. all marked with little wooden
pegs and laid out in orderly and much
scratched beds. So the would-be horticul
turist HES her to the nearest florist, and
the florist is prepared with ready-to- bloom
gardens.
The newest in porch decorations is the
Japanese garden, and It will grow with an
equal alacrity indoors, in the living room
or in the bow window of the dining room.
In fact, 1t thrives best in dim light and
shaded corners.
The foundation Is ansoblong receptacle of
pure white thing, eighteen inches long by
twelve wide, and perhaps three four
inches high On que side is reproduction
of a pebbly beach, with tiny boats drawn
up on it. Through the, center. from end to
end, runs an irregular elevation of earth,
overgrown with delicate moss. which runs
down the slope sane the other side to the
edge of the box Dotted az intervals along
the elevation are miniature Japanese trees,
a Towering ferne plain green ferns. cou-
pie of exquisitelys carved storks and little
Japanese house no higher than two inches
Out a LcFIecI Dlty-OI nNOOu CARVING. lie
whole is like bit OF Japan in miniature.
Tiny plants thrlye under good care, the
chief requisite being gentle watering, that
the doll-like arrangement of animate and
inaninaate things may not be disturbed A
garden complete costs, "a to s..
In the average suburban home, where
there is no fence, but a plethora of neigh
borhood chickens and dogs, the porch gar
den is a real comfort s.aI
Z. ..lsitrG 81 PorchqBoxes.
Porch boxes are 10, longer stationary, but
gro made or ngnt, materials, such as tin
or zinc case or deep pan. set in mating
frame with bamboo handles. The bottom is
perforated and the tin lining protects the
covering of mating. The bamboo poles
for carrying the baskets are crossed en-
the ends. in imitation of the cross pieces
placed on the shoulders of Chinese coolies.
Another style of porch box, made from
light pine wood, painted dull green, with a
scroll design in gold. has square back and
end pieces. but the front is formed of two
pieces, which come together in a shape,
thus giving the box a triangular effect from
the front and admitting OF a picturesque
graduation of the blooming plants. These
cost 81 each. untitled.
For single porch plants the newest re-
ceptacle is a tall basket made from Cuban
moss. which looks for all the world like a
green sponge. 1t is admirable for holding
moisture and combines well with nearly all
color schemes employed in porches. Hang
ing baskets also COME in this Cuban moss,
and. If filled with ferns, look like great
fern balls.
Flowers to Select.
For all stationary boxes favorite COW
ering is birch bark. and all the new hang
ing baskets are made in a coarse mesh, of
wire or rush, so that vines may grow out
through the crevices, for which purpose
both ivy and blue lobelia are fayorites
Fuehsia, geranium and yariegated vinkers
are reliable boomers for the center of a
hanging basket, though the smartest touch
Is given to the porch by hanging baskets in
green alone, with all color reserved for the
boxes. Kenthia palms are favorite of the
hour for small baskets, boxes and fern
dishes.
the following arrangement Of plants Is rec
commended by a successful florist: With the
house for background, set row of daisies
or marguerites, which, IL properly cut, will
bloom almost the summer through Next
comes row of geraniums, which must not
be too large when transplanted from the
florists beds or hot house; then begonias,
and finally ivy, to trail over the front of
the porch All these plants are sturdy and
will bear transplantinG when in bloom
If the taste runs to Old-fashioned flowers,
verbenas may be set into the boxes when
almost ready to bloom, and mignonette
lady-slipper and portulaca seeds may be
planted among the harder transplanted
blooms But for the emergency garden.
planted blooms are the safest investment.
Wire Netting Best.
Wire netting has practically suppIanted
wooden window boxes, as 1T is absolutely
safe in case of windstorms. The netting is
fastened tight TO the window jamb in front
and at the Sides and the ported plants are
set into it, instead of being transplanted
into one long wooden box; Large pots may
form the foundation, and smaller pots are
packed in the crevfces until from the front
they give the effect of a solid mass of
bloom. If the wire uneshfis close and paint
ed dark green, 1t can hardly be told from
the foliage, and oftentimes stray vine will
creep through the openings. The plants can
be lifted out for watering and wedding, or
they can be sprayed with a rubber bulb
spray right on the window ledge.
The fern dishes for summer tables are
low, shallow and 7boat-shaped. with high,
curved PROV and stern1pieces In scroll de-
signs Filigree silver Is the favorite ma
teriaIs, with both d5lass sand tin removable
Innings. r. 80
-. - YY,Sv. -. ~ 49,.