The Washington times., 1914-03-29
Peoples Garden Association
Has Happy Vision of Trans
forming City From the Com.
monpIace to the Classic.
Lamont Street Residents Began
Last Summer and Here Is
the Story of Their Practical
ExempiIfication of the Idea.
By MRS. L. H. v. BIEN.

Every block of houses a park OF
homes and all vacant lots in bloom
Is the enhancing vision and happy
object of the Peoples Gardens As
sociation" Of Washington. Realized
through the cooperation Of the
householders, it will transform
Washington from the commonplace
tn the classic.
Through the inspiration Of the
association. a group Of residents on
Lamont street between Eleventh
unison last summer for the general
Improvement Of their front lawns.
treating them as a whole rather
than in single patches.
This effort toward street beauti-
ncation led to a utility side OF the
sndeavor. The children had to be
cared for. II their haphazard play
ground were to be turned into a
park. and the park maintained. they
must be provided for elsewhere. A
Garden Club was the substitute.
OF the many schemes advanced
for a solution Of the high cost Of
living problem. the most practical
has been the organization Of the gar
den clubs for the cultivation Of va
cant lots, where enough vegetables
have been grown in Individual cases,
at least. to supply family for q
year with potatoes, to say nothing Of
the green varieties during the sum-
mer time.
In Washington, on Lamont street,
at a meeting called at the home Of
one Of the residents for the purpose
Of interesting the citizens along these
lines, though both men and women
more expressive,
Murmurs of Doubt.
At first there was a murmuring of
doubt as to the feasibility OF such a
plan. without the spur of necessity.
it was feared that the children
would prove but slack gardeners. In
the end, however, the measure was
carried. and tie matter placed in the
hands of a committee OF women.
This first meeting was followed by
a lecture by Eristow Adams illus
trating the success of q movement
of this kind in other parts of the
city.
Mr. Adams also gave the most
practical advice as to the sort Of
shrub to plant, where an eXpanse Of
ground would permit. the different
varieties of spirea, the syringa, lilac,
SNOWFALL. and burning bush, and Of
vines. the woodbine and honey
suckle. all hardy and beautiful.
Mr.. Adams also emphasized the
need Of treating the lawn as a lake,
not 50 full OF islands that no blue
could be seen, but as a clear. smooth
sheet of water, its shores foliage
clad and rich in bloom. Shrubs and
flowers should be banked against
foundations, or, il away from them.
grouped in clumps- Above all, they
should not be scattered.
Talk On Shrubs.
David Fairchild, president of the
Peoples Gardens Association. later
gave a lawn talk on the kind Of
shrub best suited to the style and
architecture Of the houses
Closely the people of the street
gathered about Mr.. FairchiId and
followed him around from lawn to
lawn listening attentively as he gave
out the different lists Of plants suit
able to the brick against which they
were to be banked and over which
vines were to chamber.
The berberis thunbergi was advo-
Gated as a background for other
shrubs against the foundations. In
front of these the German iris might
be planted, yellow for the brown
fouses and lavender for the gray,
and in front OF the iris. the dwarf
variety. pompone chrysanthemum.
As a climber. the dark green SATIN
tfafad arffnidS2 he I,tr IL
matis paniculata were advised, and
by way OF variety in conjunction
with these. the waxen white Jersey
beauty rose for the red brick, and
the pink hiawatha for the white pill
Jared porches.
Canadian hemlock and Japanese
Yews were recommended to fill in
unsighty corners. Hedges jutting
out here and there into the street
were discouraged. Thus was the
park Idea for the Lamont street
block decoration, and garden cuI-
ttvation stimulated. through the
are giving their services, for an ef-
1ectfve movement toward our City
Beautiful.
The Children's Garden
A~ to the chfldrcn's gardens.
there was a vacant corner lot 100
o5 $50 feet. which the women Sc
cured for garden purposes at no
expense through the permission Of
Mrs. NJ. T.. Thor Horth and Nellie
y. J.. Jenkins.
The sod was first taken off and
used by the children tots so small
that u took two to carry one riece.
for filling I'm the bar spots on The
streets parking. The ground was
then enriched. Dluughed and har-
rowed.
The advice of Miss Susan B. Sine
who has charge of the five school
gardens in other parts of the citv,
and who also has charge Of the fund
of the Peoples Gardens Assocfa-
ton, was sought. Miss Sipe offered
TO furnish the children with a teach
er.
Gardens about 10 by 15. We're plot
ted: Twenty-eight children were in
stalled AS gardeners. and the lot.
open to two streets and an alley,
was placed under police protection
Through the center of the lot, at
right angles to each nj ber wcre two