Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-15
FINE SUMMER DISPLAY
Beauty Enjoyed Only by the Stay
at-Homes.
AHEAD OF SPRING FLOWERS
Brilliancy in the Tone Of the Beds
of Colei and Cannae, Which
Refresh and Please.

The parks in the city are now per
haps in the height of their Development
for the year. The beds OF Towering and
foliage plants are reaching maturity and
for some weeks they will be seen in the lux
uriance of their beauty. 1t is quite unlike the
display which is enjoyed each spring when
the tulips and the hyacinths unite with the
freshness Of the lawn and the newness
or the foliage to form a picture Of much
attractiveness and grace. But the flow-
ers. delightful while they last, soon pass
away as other delicate creations OF the
season. and when the trees and the lawns
are reaching the maturity Of their charms
In the midsummer then the masses of
lovely blooms of spring have disappeared
But in their places are found the beds OF
coiei and cannae, splendid masses Of color
The former are especially interesting This
year because OF the change in develop
ment which they appear to have under
gone. due, no doubt, to skill in their
cultivation. The foliage is not az
abundant in these latter types OF this
tropical plant as was the case when il
began to be used here in the parks. In
fact, the change has taken place within
the past two years and instead of the
tall Stalks or the cannae with their pro-
fuseness of large leaves. amid which even
the bright scarlet of the bloom was al
most hidden, one now sees the beds n
mass of color. the blooms predominating
rather than the leaves
The Effect Of Mass.
The effect of such a grouping is strk-
ing. as II supplies the color note for the
entire locality and brings out the vary
ing shades OF green of lawn and tree. In
fact. no other Towering plant in use is
as positive such a mass OF rich and
satisfying color. Unless the space is a
large one il is seldom that more than one
bed of cannae is found in a single park
but that there il variety in the species
may be discovered by comparing these
teds as they are seen in different local-
ties.
There * one On the south side of La
fayette Park which has an orange tone,
and the blooms rising above the mass OF
leaves are wonderfully brilliant. On the
other side OF Pennsylvania avenue In
front of the War Department building. is
another Led of cannae, but of scarlet hue
and very snowy and striking. IL such
terms can be used without implying osten-
tation and vulgar display. There is, of
course, nothing OF the sort in such bril-
liant massing Of color, but most char m-
ing enjoyment for the eye.
The Season Through.
The lasting character of these park
adornments. as compared with those seen
in the spring is one of their satisfactory
qua lities They may be gone when the
belated summer wanderers return to their
hcmes. but for the large part OF the sum-
mer and into the early fall they glow IN
the sunlight and under the spreading
shadow of the trees. and are a rest for
the weary eye and a source Of cheer TO
those WHO sometimes feel that the tenn
perature is at times rather wearing.
The compensations of those who stay at
home are assigned for the most part To
the very human motive of making the
best of a necessity. STILL at the same
time, il must be admitted that those who
do remain at home have some privileges
and some sources of enjoyment that be-
long exclusively to the summer season in
the city. and certainly the changing
phases of the parks may he put down In
such a list 1t may be that the men who
devise these forms, not alone of the beds
but of the plants themselves. and the kind
and quality of their blooms may think
that their handiwork and their study OF
cross -breeding are not generally noticed
By the public.
An Appreciative Public.
Anything that contributes to the re-
placing of the hard and ugly things with
forms Of pleasing outlines and harmonious
color makes it's appeal to a much wider
circle than is indicated by any audible ex-
preston of enjoyment. The public taste
lis sratified with such surroundings in
spite of what is generally held In regard
to the standards in such matters OF what
Is spoken of as the people.
Matrimonial Gamma risons