Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-25
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

The finest perceptions of forms and
colors, the just gradations of objects
and their most advantageous combina-
tions, require artistic instincts of the
highest order.
Pictures have to be created through
the medium of the living forms OF
nature, instead of initiating the re-
sources of pictorial art not only is
the initiative faculty called forth in
reproducing prominent features ol
natural scenery, but also the creative
in developing beauty where it lies dor
mant and heightening it where it is
only partially displayed.
The great landscape architects who
have from time to time revolutionized
the horticultural tastes of their age
deserve to hold a high place among
the improvers of public tastes. The
circles influenced by their teachings
are wider than those of either sculptor
or painter. Hence the improvement
of our great public parks and noble
private domains, which has extended
to the more unpretentious premises of
those who possess such humble plots
as the diminutive forecourt or small
garden attached to the smallest subur-
ban cottages.
OF late years there has been a de-
cided advance in the style of en-
bellishment adopted in the generality
of our gardens. In Southern Cali
fornia there is a lamentable neglect or
abuse of the numerous beautiful OBJ
jects of the various families of plant
life.
There is no defined zone on the face
of Gods earth where such great va
riety of the vegetable kingdom grow
nearer to perfection than right here
in this beautiful southland. 1t is the
blending zone, as it were, where plants
from the Arctic regions flourish side
by side with those from the desert of
the Sahara. Hence the necessity of
studying the style of architecture and
it's adaptability to the topography, the
color, size, form of the various mem
bers of the vegetable kingdom and the
correct uses and exposures to which
they are adapted.
An artistic combination of trees,
shrubs or plants in this southern coun-
try is too rarely seen. An artistic
combination of forms will always be
attractive, as there is at all times
variety to relieve and please the eye,
serve to this end, whether the effect
be produced by form or color.
It would be a mistake to suppose
that landscape architecture is confined
merely to designs of a large scale.
It's principles should be as much OBJ
served relatively on the smallest
place.
The average client selects his archi-
test usually with care and excellent
judgment, taking pains to ascertain
the architects ability to secure the de-
sired results. Too few exercise the
same good judgment in the selection
of a man to develop their grounds,
which are open to the inspection and
criticism of every passerby, and glar-
ing defects of landscape design testify
to lack of good judgment in this re-
spect. The above is one of the most
serious errors which can be made, as
1t takes years for the plantations to
fulfill the mission for which they
were originally planned.
It will not be possible to enter into an
extended discussion of this subject here,
one should not lose sight of who wishes
must be some distinctive feature to
which other considerations must be
This feature may be de-
pendent upon some natural circum-
stances; it may be a fancy or hobby
of the owner
In order to secure the best results on
an estate of any size, where the to-
is diversified in character,
1t is absolutely essential first to secure
a survey of the existing contours, as
this information is the very foundation
on which the entire landscape scheme
IS developed.
First of all the existing topography.
together with view, determines the To-
cation and elevation of the house.