Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-05-21
When does the average small garden

When does the average small garden
look best?
Perhaps every one will have a differ
ent answer, but ours is as follows:
Just before thunderstorm.
Then there Is q peculiar light which
shows the lawn to its best advantage, in
addition to casting subtle high lights on
flowers, shrubs and trees.
What this light does to the grass is
perhaps its greatest feat, for it throws
in relief every single blade, besides CIV
ing a dark greennesS to the blades in
the mass.
The result is that even the worst lawn
before a late afternoon thunderstorm
looks for all the world the very best
lawn possible.
This is achieved by the cutting of of
the direct rays of the sun for the time
being by the high black clouds, usually
to the northwest.
There must be many other factors,
however, for subduing of the light cannot
account for the increased brilliance OF
flower colors.
Petals fairly shine in such light.
Shrubs OF all sorts take on sort OF
relief which makes each branch and
bough stand forth as if carved.
If there are flowers on such bushes
these remind the observer of scenes from
Japanese panels.
AS for the trees. they fairly glow in
their beauty. Many a person who has
never given these great horticultural
subjects the regard which should be
theirs, has been converted at last, with
out knowing it, as he looked out at trees
bowling in the wind of a severe after
noon thunderstorm.
Some of this regard for the trees is
due, in a measure, to the feeling held
by the spectator that they may be
toppled over.
Smaller subjects usually are safe. Even
the tallest shrubs seldom succumb to
the Summer thundershowers. 1t is the
tree which must bear the brunt
There is no telling which tree may
fall, for the factors Of root strength
and trunk strength are well hidden.
Like great many other wonderful
things, a tree may be taken for granted,
and too often is. The better way to re-
gard tree is to honor it with the con-
SlucldIlO Which, Is It's Oue as one Oh
the most striking of all living things.
Then every storm it goes through will
add to its laurels in the mind of the
beholder. He will see it as a monarch
of many years, and not be tempted TO
slight 1t.
Only the expert can see all the fac
tors which 60 to make tree. Here is
a specimen which has been losing some
of its branches. Severe Winters? Hid
den insects? Perhaps. But it is more
likely to be this piece of root, which has
grown over and around large main
root. Trim the piece away and note
how deeply it has cut into the main root
1t was cutting off the very life blood of
the organism. Yet only the expert is
able to note such thing, or realize
what its effect has been.
Owners of even the smallest gardens
should seize the opportunity. if possible,
to watch their yards closely before, dur
ing and Immediately after thunder
showers.
Then, II ever, come those perfect
glimpses Of flower, shrub and grass
which make up for the failures which
come to every gardener and his garden.
Every one has felt the full force of
the feeling what's the use?" when look
ing at photographs of some of the great
flower shows, or viewing the show them
selves, Then ones little contributions