The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-14
GARDEN POSSIBILITIES OF A
CITY BACK YARD.

width as the house. Next 10 the
back door there vas about ten feet
Of solid tone across the yard. and the
landscape gardener who built the
house had put down the usual side
walk running all around. which VA
removed to make room for the garden
The flagstones at the back door ne
boarded over. utilizing them FOR ~
piazza floor. Across the e:se ran a
light piazza railing. A strip Of AVN
ing made the roof. and tall growing
plants. Immediately at the edge,
formed a successful screen.
For continuous bloom and dense
shade we decided in favor Of Helian-
thus. These We found more conven-
lent than vines for many reasons and
because We needed vines to cover the
high board fence.
Poets sing about the ivied willis If
Old gardens. Being protested optimista.
W decided that tho fences must he
made to serve our necessities.
me OF the joys Of gardening IN the
opportunity to experiment. II one has
not the s~il Of a pioneer ne had better
I've in a fat and visit q park.
In M yard were many gardens. and
therein lay its never failing charm.
Some landmarks remained from year
to year. from garden to garden. ana
when We moved TO pastures new fur
nished VS. with horny spots in the
.arger fields where fenccs are a
succession ~ blooming shrubs. But
here we have no walls. no shut in
hooks OF secluded pvellneys, such as
are formed by placing a chicken wire
roof across a fence corner and allow
Ing tho honeysuckie and c.ematir
r~aniculata. which are covering the
same fence. 10 run across ard shade
the corner seat placed beneath.
NJ the northeast corner OF the ward
n hardy climbing rose made a bower
on which | have count Ave hundred
roses on "A June morning, and stopped
70 DIN "A neighhor that she might
enjoy its glory with me.
We now have the piazza possibilities
Of a country residence. with q small
breakfast table. which even a smart
rain cannot phi, out Of commission.
We also have our walls on which 10
tram kaGzu vine. cinnamon vine, Nir-
pinia creeper or Euonyrnus in addition
10 TIE two before mentioned. And OF
tho annuais morning glory and Ma
d"!ra vine. all that must be Uf service
the first wear.
II hy this time the iaundress Is
not enthusiastic IL becomes necessary
20 ho firm. because II IL perfectly true
that no walk ever ran as c~onvenient,y
80 a clothes lire as a removable
clothes reel. or these there are sew
eral excellent types. At all events a
c'o'heS reel = imperative, for one
/, thinG because one swings the reel, In.
stead Of tramp!nc over The premises
To Get 10 the clothes. and again be-
'ans" the evidences Of me eva are re,
e. moved when the day is past.
Now only one more point 70 he ron
. s;dcrct III this connection is the piac-
INK al low growing plants. and a small
Iatch OF grass, where the swinging
, garments would prove a menace "a
taller varieties.
, vs. to The garden proper. the cen
-" = the sunny spot. Plant gcra-
hlHms. saliva, roses. Cosmus. Coreops!s
and all other heat overs. instead q!
grass. which Is well content with a
j degree Of shade. A grass border be.
tween the vines and blooming plants
or shrubs makes 4 pleasant contrast.
Lay tn" garden out carefully on a
rece Of paper. Follow the curves o.
. ON" bed by parallel curves in the ons
Wing next, Have straigh. lines on,y
where they parallel the outside en-.
closure. and have no curves Their,
unless the plan is 70 dot a miniature
lawn with miniature circles, which
by the way, Is perhaps the mos. waste.
fil and least satisfactory arrangement
possible.
sink n cement pool or a half 'arre
and grow a water lily surrounded h,
elephants ears. ricirus and a rubber
plant, i's pot sunk to the rim in ths
ground the pool shallow M M
. IN tiny goldfish with stones at thu
bottom for the fish to find refuc.
under when the neighbours cat woult
\ fishing 90,
Half the fun of gardening lies "
studying the catalogues. For a sinai
garden started late buy seedlings IL
preference to sowing seed.
, We have found hut one way to max,
a lawn, whatever the size. and that 4
, to prepare the soil as carefully 4.
may Ne, then seed. roll and keel
watered. Time spent in preparation
* tim" well spent, both in preparirs
soil and considering results.
For color schemes in "A small gar
den beware of crude combinations. :
j, promiscuouS color maSsinC in "A con
a, StrIcted area g iutolcrah'e. One yea,
We giowcd with scarlet. Geraniums
S~alNIas, canuas, sladioli all reflected
the brilliant hue, M anon the 10
nage plants which toned down the TOT
3, InsiStent note Were rlcinlis. elephant,
ear, rainbow corn and summer cypress
In all this selection of reds there Il
an uNerpoWcring strain which prohib
iS the use of other reds or pink
, therefore the white OF sweet alyssum
c~andvtuft. marguerites. nlcotiana an,
lilies give the welcome relief,
, Another year We revelled in th'
soft browns and yellows OF nastur
tiums, %coreopsis. mignOnette, goldci
hlow, primroses and m%arigolds. wi
pansies, heliotrope, passion flower an
asterS To sound the contrasting note.