Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-08-30
Home OWNER
SHOULD BEGIN
HIS PLANTING
BY STANLEY b. CROCKETT.
Landscape Architect, Baker-POtts
Nursery Go.

HARLINGEN. Aug 29.-Early fail
months are among the most propi-
tious for planting shrubs, trees and
other plants in the Valley which
enjoys not only the benefits OF a
mild winter climate but also a
large supply Of native plants.
With all OF these advantages.
every Valley home owner should be
encouraged 10 beautify his yard,
the schools. their campuses and the
cities their streets.
Planting Season Here
Now is the time TO plan these
paintings, October being considered
the beginning Of the planting seas
on for most ornamental trees but
for roses and plants hat have
heavy blooming periods in the fall
II is best 10 wait until November
or early December before trans
planting.
NMan obtains from his environ
JEnt two things which he desires,
usefulness and beauty, and all
material progress in civilization has
consisted in his modification OF his
surroundings 10 serve these two
needs.
Early in history he shaped the
economic changes which he made
In the earth'S surface, so hat they
gave him an esthetic satisfaction.
This satisfaction was due IN a great
measure to the fact that the
changes were obviously man-made.
they bore witness that he had inn
pressed his ideas on the stubborn
natural material. Much later IN his
observation-disclosures, It might be
said, in modern times-came the
period when man instead of being
isolated and overpowered IN the
midst Of wild nature, found him
self cramped and oppressed b. the
works Of his own hands, and sought
relief in the esthetic pleasure TO
be derived from landscape which
expresses not mans will, but the
operation of natural forces.
In landscapinR the home grounds.
We must try to accomplish five
things: first We must provide an
attractive outlook from the house.
second. We must provide an easily
and natural approach 70 the house:
third, we must provide pleasing
impressions OF the house and
grounds from points along approach
walks and drives: fourth, we must
provide privacy within the grounds,
fifth. we must provide for utilltar-
ian features. such as garden seats,
pergolas, pools, auxiliary buildings,
service yards. vegetable gardens,
and garages. and at the same time.
fit them properly into the general
landscape picture.
On small properties, the houses
should be set back not less than
25lseet and the width Of the house
siguld not exceed more than three
fiffhs OF the property Il occupies.
The more side yard available the
better will be the results. AS a
general rule the house should not
be located in the center OF the
property.
The garage and other buildings
should be placed in the rear In
such a position as 70 be screened
from the front.
Area Division
The Well-planned home grounds
should have a public area, private
area and service area.
The public area includes the front
lawn. the entrance walk, drives
and foundation planting. The lawn
should be left open with shrubbery
along EACH side OF the property
line. and against the foundation in
the smaller grounds. on the larger
properties 1t may be planted on
each side Of the walk q driveway
entrances. as well as property lines
and foundation. This area should
appear natural, hOSpitable and
harmonious and should be Separat-
ed from the ear by carefully ar
ranged shrubbery.
The private area " outdoor liv-
ing room. is located at the side or
rear. It should be surrounded by
a boundary Of trees and shrubs in
order that the family may enjoy
privacy. IL Is IN this area that the
flower or rose garden should be
placed: also such features as lawn
furniture. seats. arbCrs. swings.
lily and fish pools, sun dialS and
bird baths. The flower garden may
be used as a colOriul base planting
10 the higher shrubs which enclose
the area. or they may be worked
out in formal designs. using a sun
dial or other object As a central
feature.
Ahe service area u the small
pbperty should provide a place for
storage or waste and drying clothes
and in the larger properties include
vegetable gardens. poultry yards.
stables. kennels and orchards but
should De screened from the private
area and house.
Walks and drives should be as
direct as possible and approach the
house in a straight line or by easy.
graceful curves.
Composition Rules
In order that paintings may be
utilized to the best advantage the
following rules OF composition are
fundamental:
There u be unity. This means
that when We look from a given
point in one direction. We will have
a complete picture with some
special feature pred0minating. The
house is the predominating object
and everything else should be made
TO play its part in enhancing its
value.
There must be balance. This means
that one side Of a given view should
have as much weight as the other.
For instance. the house itself may
be balanced very nicely with a la~Re
tree on one side OF IL or in another
view within the grounds a tee may
be balanced by a shrub. a shrub
with a group Of flowers, an so on.
There must be harmony OF shapes.