The Rock Island Argus and daily union., 1922-04-28

pink and white water lilies bloom
on the surface of the water.
Formal Effects Secured.
The walk between the center
plot and the margin of flowers is
cut in straight lines, with rather
formal effect. Old stone benches
and quaint chairs to match. that
have stood around the grounds for
years, are conveniently placed for
quiet tete-a-tetes.
A number of golf balls are some
times seen on these chairs and il
is said that the president occas-
ionally practices golf shots a bit in
the privacy of the garden enclos-
ure.
There are no shade trees in the
small evergreens artistically plac-
ed. The landscape architect who
designed the plot for Mrs. Wilson
planned to have tall Virginia ced-
ars used, but the expense of obtain
ing them was too great and smaller
trees were substituted without ser
ious change in the desired effect.
The flowers of this garden are
such delicately colored blooms as
the Darwin tulip. large, pink va
riety; while and pale purple iris;
and later, peonies, larkspur, pinks,
candytuft, forget-me-nots, sweet
william, and lavender. The color
scheme is soft. No gay red or
yellow blossoms are admitted to
this pastel group of flowers.
The west garden is laid out
along lines similar to those of the
east plot. Here, however, roses are
the only flowers featured. Spring
bulbs are put in to brighten the
enclosure before the roses bloom,
At present there is thickly
blooming border of white poets eye
narcissus. but by the middle of
May the bulbs will be gone and red.
pink, and pale yellow roses will
begin to bloom. A few of the va
rieties which adorn the White
house rose garden are pink Kill
larney, pink radiants, yellow sun
burst.
The attraction in this garden,
aside from the roses, is an arch at
the far end, formed by the privet Of
the hedge. English ivy on the lat
tice beneath this arch forms a soft
background for a small statue.
Here again, economy is noticeable
in White house management. The
plan called for a marble statue,
but plaster of Paris had to be sub
stituted to fit the fund available.
The statue, a graceful flute boy, is
now undergoing a spring renoya-
tion before it is set out for the gar
den season.
Between the garden hedge and
the house runs a beautifully laid
out walk that is really a continu-
alton of the rose garden. Eight
rose trees line the grass on either
side of the walk and a privet arch
forms the gateway at either end.
This is called the presidents walk,
because it is a short outdoor route
from the executive offices to the
White house. In fine weather, II
is commonly used by the president
in preference to the corridors.
The gardens are only budding,
but the atmosphere OF spring Is
strong about the White house. The
grounds are in trim order. The
Canton magnolia and tlowerlng
ounce trees are at the height Of
their blooming. About the foun-
tains and in the large flower beds,
tulips, jonquils and pansies are IN
full bloom. The trees all over the
grounds are sending out pale green
shoots. Awnings are being put up
over the south portico, where the
Harding family likes to have tea
on a warm afternoon. And surest
sign of spring at the White house,
the tramp of endless tourist part
les, is heard in its halls.