CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1908-02-20
ADVICE FOR ARRANGING
.r THE HOME GROUNDS

Before building a house most per-
a definite plan of the structure. Com
paratively few people, however, real
ize the desirability OF planning the
home grounds. And yet the latter may
have quite as much to do with max
ing home as the former.
In a short article it is impossible to
give more than few general princi-
pies. These, if considered in their
proper relations to the situation Of the
building and the character of the sur
roundings. may lead to pleasing re-
suits. The location Of walks and
drives should be made a matter of
convenience.
Neither the walks nor the drives
are ornamental in themselves, hence
they should not be more numerous
than the uses OF the daily life call for.
Curved walks and drives are often
more pleasing than straight ones, es-
pecially where the grounds are large.
The curves, however, should be easy
and natural; not short and knky.
The home grounds may be COM
pared with a picture in which the
lawn forms the canvas. with the house
the principal center OF interest View
ed in this way the house should not be
hidden behind a yardful Of trees, but
should, at least, have the front facing
an open stretch of lawn. Trees. if
planted near the house. are preferably
placed at the sides and rear, SO as to
form a setting and background for
it The usual practice of planting sew
eral rows of trees running from the
only conducive. to monotony in effect,
and furthermore, it is very difficult to
establish and maintain a lawn under
such circumstances.
The most appropriate places for
large fruit trees are along the bound
aries of the grounds. The most pleas
ing way to place them is not in
straight lines, but in groups, with low
er-growing kinds in the front and to-
ward the center of the grounds. 1t is
usually desirable partly TO separate
the back Of the yard from the front
This is most pleasingly accomplish
ed by placing one or two masses of
low growing trees and shrubs at the
sides of the yard. One or more open
ings should be left between the divid-
ing masses of trees and shrubs for
free passages and for the glimpses Of
the farther parts of the grounds.
stronger massing of trees and tall
shrubs may be used in the proper po-
sition to shield the house from the
prevailing winds. BY using variety
of trees with tall shrubs next,
and smaller shrubs in front, a most
effective wind break may be formed,
and by planting the latter in irregular
groups a much more pleasing effect
is possible than where all are placed
in formal rows. Wherever fine views
of the distance are In danger Of being
shut OF. openings should be left or
made to retain them. especially such
views as may be seen from porches
and living room windows. Evergreen
trees are most desirable on the north
and west, because Of their effective
wind-break qualities in winter. They
are not suitable trees for the south
side of n house or in front Of win
dows. In winter the sunshine should
be given a free chance to enter the
windows and thereby greatly add not
only to the cheerfullness of the rooms
but also to the lowering OF the fuel
bill.
The smaller shrubs and towering
ANIMALS are best placed in the cor
ners by the porches, along the base
of the house wall and in front of the
larger plants at the sides of the lawn.
Groups of such plants on either side
OF the entrance gates are usually very
pleasing. Avoid planting single shrubs
or bushes or other plants promiscu-
ously about the lawn. The pleasing.
distinctive character OF n place can be
secured only by leaving large open
places where nothing but green grass
allowed to grow, II the whole place
is dotted full OF single specimens and
small clumps, the effect Is patchy and
fussy, where It should be digniied and
Speciment, plants, II used.
at all, should be planted sparingly
and mt al In fha uno.t ronanlc,unua
places.
Flower beds cut oct OF the lawn ere
best avoided. The break up The
Of the green. are di1icult