Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-08
GARDEN POSSIBILITIES
OF A CITY BACKYARD

inches wide by fifty-iive feet deep The
! yard was in the rear. forty-fvc feet
! deep and the same width rs the house
| Next to the back door there was about
ten feet of solid stone across the yard
| and the landscape gardener who built
the house had put down the usual side
walk running all around, which was
removed TO make room for the garden.
The hagstoucs at the back door we
boarded over. utilizing them for 4
piazza floor Across the edge ran Il
light piazza railing. y strip OF avn
ing made the roof. and tall growing
plants, Immediately at the edge, formed
Il successful screen.
Tor continuous bloom and dense
shade we decided in favor Of Hclian-
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 walls OF
old gardens. Being professed optimis,s,
we decided that the fences must be
made To serve our necessities.
One Of the joys OF gardening is the
opportunity to experiment. If one has
not the soul Of a pioneer he hal better
live in fiat and visit Il park
In our yard We're many gardens, and
therein lay its ncvcr-fail Hing charm.
Some landmarks remained from year
10 year. from garden 10 garden, and
when we moved 10 pastures new, fur
niShed US with hoIny spots in the
larger fields where our fences are a
succession OF blooming shrubs. But
here we have walls, no shut in
hooks Of secluded lovcliness. such rs
are formed by placing II chicken wire
across fence corner and allowing
the honcysuckle and clematis cancu-
lata. which are covering the same
fence. to run across and shade the cor
ner seat placed lreneath.
At the northeast corner of The yard
Z hardy climbing rose made n bower,
on which ] have counted 500 roses on
a juno morning. and stopped to admit
a neighbor that she might enjoy IT'S
glory with me.
We now have the piazza possibilities
o. country residence. with a small
breakfast table, which even II small
rain cannot put out nf commission
We also have our walls on which to
train kudzu Wire. cinnamon vine Viz
Sinia creepcr or Euomymus IN addition
To the two before mentioned And ,t
the ANIMALS morning glory and Mn
deira vine. all that must be of service
the first year
II by this time the luundrass Is not
enthusiastic II becomes necessary to
be hrm. because il is perfectly true
mat no walk ever ran as conveniently
10 u clothes line AS n removable clothes
reel OF these there are several eN-
cei!ent types. At all events "A clothes
reel is imperative, for one thing be-
cause one swings tho reel, Instead o,
trampinS over the premises To ce, to
the clothes. and again because the evil
dcnceS Of the evil are removed when
the day is past.
Now only one more point TO be con-
sidered in this connection is tho plac-
ing or low growing plants, and II small
patch OF grass, where the swinging
garments would prove menace 20
taller varieties
AS to the garden proper. the center
Is the sunny spot. Plant peraniums,
saivia' roses cosmos. corcopsis and all
"ther neat lovers. instead Of grass.
when is vel! content with n degree OF
shade y grass border between the
vines and blooming plants or shrubs
MAKES a pleasant contrast
Lay the garden out carefully on
piece OF paper. Follow the curves OF
ono bed by parallel curves in the one
lying next Have straight lines only
where they parallel the outside in
closure; and have no curves there un-
less the plan is 10 dot a miniature
lawn with miniature circles. which. by
the way, is perhaps the most wastcful
and least satisfactory ARRANGEMENT
possible.
Sink a cement pool or half barrel
and grow water lily surrounded by
elephants ears. rcinus and ~ rubber
plant, its pot sunk to the rim in tn.
Sr"und-thc pool shallow--and put in
tiny r0ldSh with stones at the bottom
Tor the fish to find refuge under when
the ucighbor'S cat would a nshiny 20.
Hall tn" fun Of gardening lies in
studying the catalogues. For small!
garden started late huy seedlings in
preference TO sowing seed
W" have found hut one way 10 make
lawn, whatever the size, and that is
10 rr~pore the soil as carefully as
may be. ta"u seed roll and keep wa
tered fimc spent in preparation Is
! tam" We spent. both in preparing
soil an considering results.
For color schemes In small gar
den bcwnr" at crude combinations y
promiscuous color masSinc in a con-
str,ctcd area i iniolcrab lc. one year
we glowcd with scarlet. Cicraniums.
NalvlaS, Cannas, giadiui all reflected
the brilliant hue. aud among tho TO-
Large plants which toned down the too
'nSiStcnt note We're ricinus. elephants
ear rainbow corn and summer cypress
III all this selection Of reds there is
AN empowering strnin., which pro
h.h'ts the use Of other reds or pink:
therefore. the white Of sweet ;tlySSuin.
candy;Gft, mnrEueritos. nicotiana and
lilies give TIN" welcome relief
Another Wear we rcvclcd in the soft
browns and ycll"Ws Of nasiurtiums.
coreorsis. misnoucitc, golden glow.
primr"s"s ana nari.olds, with pansics
he""t!"pe, passion flower aud astcrs
10 sound the contrasting note
OF pink and half-moutral tin;s. which
blend there - no end and as few
plants civ" results through tho entire
season one may hc careful choosing
run from end from end to END Of tho