Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-17
MODEL FOR VISITORS
Plans for Beautifying the
Streets of the Capital.
AIMS OF PEOPLES GARDENS
Proposed Change Of Inauguration
Date to April Considered.
RATHER BUDS THAN BUNTING
Efforts Of Local Organization to In
crease the Attractiveness
Of the City.
AIMS OF PEOPLES GARDENS
RATHER BUDS THAN BUNTING

of the inaugural date to April, when its
private flower gardens. its attractive
lawns and public parks would serve as an
endless cause of attraction to the thou
sands of persons who will visit the city
on that occasion, is but one Of the many
aims of the Peoples Gardens Of Wash
ington, in the attempt Of the organiza-
ton to beautify the home and its sur
roundings.
That Washington should put on hand
some appearance for Inauguration week
and arouse public pride in the appear
ance Of its yards and gardens. stimu-
lating general interest in the landscape
gardening and surroundings, Is the opinion
advanced by officers Of the association
who are planning an active campaign
with this end In view.
Appeal to Spring Visitors.
1t is not enough that the city be deco
rated with flags and bunting, they argue.
when it Is possible to create lasting
impression upon the thousands Of visitors
by an example of civic industry which
would display itself in the yards and gar
dens made beautiful by every blossom
known to early spring.
With the proposed change Of the inau-
gural date to April, when the first touch
of spring has shown itself in the budding
of flowers and the unfolding of leaves,
this plan is not impossible, and the men,
bers Of the association, are earnestly pre-
pairing to make the home and the public
parks the basis of an effective scheme of
decoration for that occasion. The neg
lected vacant lots scattered about In
every section Of the city it is pr.pose cd
10 int rdn Ia No~ v9a<3
to have each resident act as q commit
tee of one' and see that his neighbor
does some little thing to his own prem
iseS that will add to the attraction OF the
neighborhood. Where there Is opportu-
nifty for city gardens flowers, they claim,
should be planted in time for them to
bloom at their fullest during inausura-
ton week, while the lawns should be
kept tidy and hedges grown to hide any
unsightly conditions that cannot be rene
died.
This home decoration. the association
declares. will prove far more appealing
and effective to the visitors than all OF
the bunting and all of the electric light
ing that could be used to decorate the
city in honor Of the incoming President.
to the visitor, but 1t would make Wash
ington a. model city for the nation.
Tentative pans along many lines OF
civic Improvement have been made by
the 0SSOClaIlOu. lucT0 are several UTOdu
projects, including q publicity campaign,
which would serve to impress the idea
of the association, its aims and objects.
upon the minds Of the public, and also
to enlist the support of the young people
and children Of the city.
Washington, the association declares, is
tagging behind other progressive cities
in its care Of yards and public places.
and as the capital of the nation the
residents should take greater personal
pride in making it the most beautiful
capital in the world.
Aims Of the Association.
First and foremost is the plan to beau.
tify the homes Of Washington, realizing
terest must have their beginning in the
home Second only to this is the creation
Of a public interest in landscape garden.
ing and other forms Of horticulture which
wifi result in increased beauty to the
city.
AS stated by the officers Of the associa.
ton, its real objects are: ITO MAKE the
vacant lots Of the city available as gar
dens for those who have no garden space
Of their own; to build up, wherever pos
sible, recreation gardens for the use OF
the people of the neighborhood in which
they are located; to encourage, through
its members, the Identification of the
parkings and back yards Of the city. and
to stimulate a general interest In the
landscape gardening of the city and It's
surroundings"
It is possible to make a garden city
out Of Washington. say the officers Of the
association, and 1t can be done by the
next inauguration date II the public can
be induced to give its whole-hearted sup
port to the movement. Realizing what
the future holds for the city, with It's
possibilities utilized. the association
points out that washington would be
unsurpassed as a garden city, and in the
thronged with thousands Of visitors. at
tracted by its display of cherry blossoms.
blooming wistarias and other towering
plants. Just as Toxic in Japan draws null
titudes of sightseers during the cherry
blossom season and the chrysanthemum
season. Thousands realize that Washing
ton could be made equally attractive and
are willing to help make 1t SO, but do not
know how to proceed. The Peoples Gar
dens is designed to build up concrete,
late interest in city Identification, furnish
information over the phone when 1t is
wanted, assist people in getting their
towering plants and shrubs and call pub
lie attention to the most attractive ex-
amples Of how to beautify the parkings
and back yards Of the city. 1t requires
little imagination to picture each street a
vista of loveliness. with spreading trees,
radiant flowers and well kept lawns
Will Try to Enlist Children.
The association will make strong eff
forts to interest the children Of the city
in the work OF caring for their yards,
and arrangements will be made whereby
prizes will be given to those who can
show the best kept and most artistic
lawns and gardens. Although nothing
definite has been arranged about this
feature, Senator Henry F. du Pont has
agreed to offer q prize OF SIS to the
person growing the best spring bulbs
More definite arrangements regarding
prizes will be made at coming meeting
Of the association. The children will be
urged to participate in q floral parade
such as is held in some cities. and It Is
believed that this suggestion will meet
with hearty support from many resi-
dents Of the District.
The publicity plan Of the association
contempiates that the people of the city
be made acquainted with the objects OF
the association through the press. and
lectures on horticulture, gardening and
subjects OF a like nature are being ar
ranged. The association has q wide field
from which to draw, as many OF its
members are experts In the Department,
Of Agriculture and are amply able to
present the subject in all it's phases
David Fairchild. president of the asso-
citation and connected with the Dc art
ment Of Agriculture, will be tho prime nal
lecturer: others OF the department who
viii lecture are Prot. L e. Corbett. horti-
bureau Of plant Industry
Work Of the Past Year.
During the last year the association
l;d y,o,ch "a ornuSa n,,hIic eopfin,ac< 80