New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-08
TENEMENT GARDENS.
Prize Contest Makes FIo1cers Bloom
in UnIoUeEg Places.

Flower gardens in backwards and windows OF
tenement districts would not seem to promise
much I'm the way of attractiveness, yet the re-
suits recently obtained in a prize contest con-
Quoted In Boston show what wonders be
wrought when patient loving care and intelh
gent effort are directed to such object.
The first prize winner was Mrs. Leandro. OF
Hanover-ave in the crowded North End, who
had transformed her little narrow backyard
into a bower of beauty with old fashioned
flowers, tall phloxes, dahlias and towering vines
standing against the fence or trailing 1t.
Although she has five children, Mrs. Leandro
found time enough to care for the garden. with
the help Of her husband. She devoted g little
time each night and morning to watering,
pruning and wedding the plots. There were at
least twenty varieties of flowers and plants in
Mrs. Leandro's garden.
Perhaps the most artistic display was that of
Mrs Elizabeth A. OBrien, in Commercial-st.
What formerly stable loft had been con-
verted into greenhouse, with morning gories,
mountain pinks petunias, begonias, golden
CLOVIS, daisies, geraniums, verbenas, bachelor
buttons, nasturtiums. musk, date plant Virginia
creeper, cigar plant, mienta plant, buttercups,
and here and there a rubber plant Not many
country estates could boast a greater variety.
Although I don't know the names of all the
plants and flowers in my garden said Mrs
O'Brien, Il love them ALL
Many OF the prizes awarded had pathetic
stories connected with them. Little Margaret
McGafhgan won her two crisp dollar bills by
clambering twice a day up a ladder to where
her window box hung on steep roof.
James Foley's garden in the West End con-
tanned only few sturdy sunf1owers, yet they
had been grown under such difficulties that he
won the first prize Of $40 for the West End.
Little Annie Heyman, cripple, living on
Salem-st., tended a small balcony garden and
won prize. 1T is the only around here, I
think, she said, sfyly, and all the neighbors
time and have to stay in the house. / got so
tired with nothing to do that my sister Re
becca planted scarlet runners and gerani ans
for me in box at the window. think 1 could
tell just how much every plant grew each day
/ used to watch them from the couch where l
lay when couldn't get up to water them. Even
if hadn't won prize / would have been glad
l started my garden. / have grown to love it
much mean to always have one as long as
1 live"
Eva Kostofsky didn't have much room for
her garden. She lives upstairs but she has
three windows and they front on the street. She
got three old wooden boxes and planted flower
ing vines, so that she could train them UP around
the edges of the window sashes. Her patient
care won her third prize.
The contest arranged by the Civic Ser
vice House. and the money for the prizes was
the gift of Mrs. Jack Gardiner. There were over
East Boston and several other sections came
pathetic letters asking permission to share in
the contest. It's influence has been felt in some
Of the gloomiest homes in this city where many
a dark alley has for the first time been bright
ened by flowers.