The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-22
Doorways Of City Homes
Made Beautiful in Winter

such winter uses Is much greater than
might be supposed. Their use in such
positions naturally requires that the
plants shall he either Of the varieties
which are perpetually green or Of the
kinds which at least retain their leaves
and some semblance Of life during the
winter months. The evergreen. In some
OF its manifold forms. is OF course the
most popular: and the spruce. arbor
vita. FIR and the other members Of the
family are In high favor. particularly as
their variety Of foliage and different
tones Of color confer interest just when
and where interest Is most desired.
In addition to the evergreen there are
the box and the hay. which have been
noted, the holly and the barberry. which
Possesses leaves Of varying shades Of
green, brown and bronze and also
clusters OF brilliant red berries which
retain their glow OF color until far
into the winter. Ivy is the favorite vine
for these out OF door winter effects and
the we'll known English ivy Is the favoritc
of the group. Its use Is necessary in
almost every instance, for training over
trellises or screens OF lattice work. for
covering wooden boxes used as re-
ceptacles for plants or for filling in
spaces which must be filled to prevent
the foliage from having a somewhat
rough and ragged appearance.
There are many people who place So
high value upon these exterior decora-
lions Of the winter home that they pro-
vide two or even three sets Of such
shrubbery as Is not literally planted in
the ground. II these winter decorations
are in place about November 1 the rigor
OF the New York climate. its constant
changes Of temperature and the dust
and smoke ~ the city will cause the
shrubbery to lose at least It's first brav-
cry Of appearance ahou; Christmas,
when II ever such adornments should
be at their best.
Another set Of shrubbery put in place
then will lend new life and cheer To III.
exterior. The substitution involves no
great trouble or expense. for the recep-
taces used for holding out of door plants
are almost invariably made with lining
Of sheet iron or TIN, in which the plants
are grown. and the ordering Of several
~ these Innings and the keeping Of a
frc.h set OF greenery in preparation
makes possible their frequent renewal
~ even greater variety than the
shrubbery itself Is the array of Jars.
boxes and other receptacles in which ii
r,nuity Of potters and other manufac-
turers has resulted in countless beauti-
full objects suitable for such uses and
also Of reproductions Of some of the
treasures Of the world In one OF the
courts Of the Alhambra at Granada. in
Spain. stands the famous Fountain OF
Lions where the great basin which
holds the fountain Is supported upon
the backs Of lions carved in stone. and
the vases or jardinleres which have
been modelled from It possess much Of
the grace and beauty Of the original.
other very beautiful r.ceptacles for
growing plants are made OF has-rclefs
az cement, terra Gotta or imitation stone
copied after the Elgin marbles. other
similar flower boxes are made Of copies
~ the Singing Boys" the has-relief 10y
Donatello.
II must not he inferred that the pro-
vlding of winter decorations for the cN-
terror Of the house is confined to the
very wealthy or that such adornmcntS
are necessarily costly Their arrange
mcut. like the planning Of gardens
Nrrandas and many other details about
the home. Is more apt to be the result of
good taste and judgment consistently
used than OF any mere expenditure of
dollars and cents. Almost any arrange
mcnt about an entrance, no matter how
beautiful. will upon examination j.
found to be made up of the simplest
materials put together with the cNcr-
else of discrimination and nicely Of
Judgment, which, To be sure, may ho
said Of almost anything beautiful, par,
ticularly Of anything connected with
the adornment IT the home