The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-03-30
CIVIC AND HIGHWAY IDENTIFICATION
BY M. F. Hetherington

The committee might suggest the
plants. or shrubs, or seeds that are
best suited for the season and the
locality; might even take upon itself
the work of furnishing these plants
and shrubs at cost; might. in short,
give information as to what to plant
where to plant and when to plant
Most people will respond to such sug
gestions, and will cooperate. 1t
does not seem that it would be a
difficult matter to get the lawns and
parkways Of 4 single block, on both
sides of any street. planted uniform
ly to grass; yet | doubt if succh a
planting can be found in the city. If
we take any one block, even where
some effort at improvement has been
made. we will find one lawn and
parkway planted to bermuda, another
to ST. Augustine grass, q third will
be covered with stubbly growth
of assorted weeds. while the fourth
will be as bare as the palm of ones
hand and carefully swept. 1t is diff
cult to understand the adherence
some people seem to have of grass.
They seem to think that their little
be desecrated if a blade of grass
were allowed to spring up. Grass
is Natures benediction; her simplest
and most beautiful apparel. 1t is
the one thing which the newcomer
to Florida misses most. A plot Of
grass. we'll cared for. even though
there lie no other effort at improv-
ment, will give home a more attrac-
tive appearance than grassless
lawn with many shrubs and plants
scattered about without order of de
sign Too many yards are like a
great many rooms-lile the interiors
, of a great many homes-tOo much
cluttered up with incOnsequent
things AS far as possible, and as
tactfully as possible. people should
he persuaded away from the Sapolio
box and lard can scheme of orna-
mentation. and to strive for more
grass, and in some instances. for
fewer and better plants and shrubs,
and these planted with some view to
their general effect upon the land
scape.
The park ways being quasi public
property, afford opportunities for
public improvement. where perhaps
the least obstacles will be encounter
ed, and where doubtless co-operation
could be secured from the city to a
certain extent. If. at the end Of a
year, no more had been accomplished
than that the park ways of half 4
dozen blocks, on both sides of any
street should be uniformly covered
lesson in civic Identification would
be presented that would greatly slim
ulate interest.
The subject of highway beautifi-
cation is such big one that it can
scarcely be touched upon here; but
it may be said that the ladies might
accomplish something along this line
if they would formulate a practical
and intelligent plan of tree and shrub
planting as applied to some of our
principle roads. and then urge its
adoption before the county commits
sioners. who hold the public purse
strings With your newly acquired
importance. as wielders of the bal
lot, there is no doubt but that your
ideas will receive due consideration.
particularly if they are put in de-
finite shape, with details worked out
as to just what is desired to be done,
with some idea of the cost involved.
Some hints along this line might he
secured by an inspection OF the Mem.
orial Highway in our neighboring
county of Marlborough.
There are many other ways in
which the women, both by sugges.
tion and by action, can aid in this
work of identifying Lakeland and it's
environment. They may, among
other things do something towards
abating the vacant lot nuisance, by
insisting upon the passage and en-
forcement of a city ordinance com.
polling the owners of vacant lots to