Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-04
SCORE OF GARDENS
TO DRAW VISITORS.
Pleasure and Profit Promised
Those Who View George
town Spots May Ia.
BY GRETCHEN S. SMITH.

Washington and visitors to the Capital
again will be given an opportunity to
see the beautiful old gardens of George
town on the afternoon OF May IA, when
more than 20 will be opened to the
public
A double benefit will be achieved by
those who take advantage Of the OPP
portunity offered them by the owners
of the gardens. Helpful ideas will be
picked up by those who desire to do
something with that ugly little back
yard, on which nothing seems to grow;
suggestions will be gladly offered and
advice freely given by those who have
profited through experience. Visitors
will be amazed at what can be accom-
pliShed through the persistent 'putter-
ing" in the dirt, known only to those
who really love the soil and the beauti-
full things it produces.
In addition to the mere pleasure and
persona. profit of a visit to the gardens,
satisfaction may be derived from the
thought that funds acquired from the
tickets bought for admission will be
used to help little children, for the
Georgetown gardens opened to the pub
lie have been offered by their owners
to assist in the work of the Georgetown
Child Welfare Council, under whose
auspices the pilgrimage Of May IA will
be conducted.
Opportunity at Home.
While many hundreds of Washing
tonians have visited with pleasure the
gardens of nearby Virginia opened re-
Gently to the public, Georgetown garden
owners offer the opportunity to see
what can be done at home. Your soil
in that tiny plot seemingly so hopeless
Of production. is the same as will be
found in many of the gardens in
Georgetown.
Behind the quaint old brick home of
Miss Madeleine McCandless at 1924
Thirty-third street you will find a
little Eden shut of from the noise Of
the streets without. 1.-TWO years ago."
said Mrs. McCandless, the mother Of
Miss McCandlesS, this was just bar
rem back yard"
Hiding the wooden fence which sepa-
rates the McCandless home from their
poplars, interspersed with squatty little
cedars which cover most effectively the
thin, naked trunks of the poplars.
I'VE wanted something which would
insure us privacy" explained Mrs.
McCandless, land we wanted something
attractive which would not require
long time in developing. SO We selected
the poplars and cedars. as both grow
rapidly"
Flowering bridal wreath lends touch
of daintiness and freshness which per-
vades the atmosphere of the McCand-
less garden. The designing Of her gar
den, from the protecting sentinel fence
Of poplars, to the quaint little rock gar
den hidden away In far corner in the
very back Of the yard, was done en-
tirely by Miss Madeleine McCandless.
Her only outside assistant has been the
gardener who under her direction, has
done the rough work.
Another Delightful Spot.
Near the McCandless home, on Volta
place. will be seen another one of those
delightful small gardens, whose intimacy
Is one of its outstanding charms. Miss
Frances Sortwell, chairman of the COM
mittee in charge of the garden pilgrim
age, will also show what can be done in
the short period of two years. Miss
flagstone terrace, which on warm days
proves most delightful place to serve
tea, is at present a profusion of color
ful blooms. Tulips, iris, pansies, violets,
prlmroSes and vast quantity of dainty
rock flowers vie with each other In the
richness of their coloring. A rustic
path of f1agstones leads around the
flower beds planted at the sides of the
grass plot in the center Of the garden.
A pleasing touch has been added to
the serenity of Miss Sortwell's outdoor
sanctuary by two tiny blue love birds
whose feathered coloring on the terrace
blends so perfectly with the blue flowers
in the yard. The pilgrimage of the
Georgetown gardens will offer garden
hints to persons of every taste, from
just the ordinary garden variety" to
those desiring the most formal land
scaping. More than half dozen gar
dens which were unopened to the public
last year have been offered for exhibit
ton this year. They include those of
Mrs. Ruth Hanna Mccormick, Admiral
Rousseau, Charles A. Eaton, Senator M.
e. Tydings, Mrs. Mabel Walker WILLIE
brandt, Mrs. Blair Thaw and Mrs. E.
A. Mccartney: Other gardens which
the public is invited to visit are those
of Mrs. Ruth Pratt, Mrs. Frank west,
Maj. and Mrs: Harry Leonard, Mrs.
Herman Hollerith, Mrs. E. A. Finken-
staedt, Mrs. Archbold, Mrs. Frank S.
Bright, Mrs. John IhIder. Miss Bentley
Miss Madeleine McCandless, Mrs. r. F.
Whitehead, Mrs. B. H. Never. Miss
Bertha LOCKER, Miss Catherine Weaver,
Mrs. C. S. Warder and Miss Frances
Sortwell. At the home of Mrs. Never,
In addition to her charming garden,
visitors will be permitted to view some
OF the works of Mabel Hunt johnson.
painter Of garden and homestead por-
traiture, screens and over mantel mu-
rails. Mrs. johnson has exhibited in
Philadelphia and Wilmington, but this
will be the first time her paintings will
have been shown in this citv