Evening star., 1942-07-26

decidedly out OF place in the front
worked into back yard plan.
In general, shady back yards do
This is only general rule, how
ever, for one could easily have neatly
edged beds filled with wildf1owers or
other shade loving plants. Such beds
should be surrounded by dwarf box
wood. or some other dominant type
of edging material that would keep
the appearance Of straight lines even
though it were not always kept per-
fectly sheared. Beds thus outlined
may be filled with plants and flowers
Of all sorts without losing their gen.
eral contours However, the best
effects are obtained where each bed
contains but one kind Of plant. In
intricate patterns. beds Of the same
kind OF plants, even the same varie-
ties should be balanced. This ap-
plies especially to roses as their habit
Of growth is so irregular that unless
they are planted within borders of
boxwood, or some similar edging
plant, they destroy, or at least de-
tract from, any appearance of pat
tern. The boxwood edged rose beds
at Dumbarton Oaks clearly illustrate
how successfully this growth habit
may be overcome and roses used in
formal garden.
The arrangement Of beds in a
formal garden may be as simple as a
hollow square or as complicated as
series of beds laid out in geomet-
rical pattern. Probably the most
satisfactory arrangement for the
long narrow lot would be series Of
hollow squares laid out along COM
mon axis. The axis, however, should
extend from a doorway of the house
to some focal point at the rear Of the
yard, the beds being balanced on
both sides Of this line. A grass
walkway the width OF the steps or
entrance, extending the full length
OF the lot to a bird bath or some
other architectural feature Is one
way Of developing an axis.
Where there Is terrace at the
rear of the house many interesting
developments may be worked out to
provide an outdoor living room as
well rs to relate the design Of the
house to the form Of the garden.
This, however, usually requires the
services Of 4 landscape architect,
although clever gardeners have sue
ceeded in producing some very at
tractive and interesting results with
out the benefit of technical assist
'ance.
Pools may well be included in
the design Of q formal garden, but
here again their lines should con-
form to and be a part Of the SYM
metry Of the garden. II the pool is
In the center of = hollow square it
should also be square in outline and,
Of course. In proportion to the size
OF the garden. A pool should have a
pronounced outline or curb that
definitely ties It in with the garden
plan. ~,
Whether the garden has flowers
or shrubs, or both, they should be
kept trimmed to definite lines. Most
landscape architects suggest that
the plant material should be selected
for its effect rather than for the
sake Of the flowers. The use of
columnar-accent plants 80 often as
socaated with formal gardens is not
at all necessary, although they may
Be used to strengthen the pattern
Formal gardens need not be elab-
crate. In fact, restraint is neces-
sary In the small back yard for ef-
fective results. A simple bed ar
rangement surrounding a grass plot
may be all that good taste dictates.
Certainly overornamentation with
benches, dials. birdbaths, ETC., con-
veys the impression of museum
rather than q garden. One item
well placed is usually all that Is
needed in the small garden.
The same Is true Of the number
Of flower beds, although most of us
keep adding other flowers or other
varieties that We want. However,
let's try to keep the garden simple
enough 20 that the maintenance
work does not convert it from a
thing Of pleasure to never-ending
chore.
Most formal gardens seem to de-
pend upon bulbs and ANIMALS for
their floral effects. This gives cer-
tain advantages, such as neatness,
proportion and mass color effects.
To follow such q plan one needs to
lift and remove the bulbs as soon
i rs they have matured then rework
the beds and plant the ANIMALS
This has the advantage OF reducing
the hoeing and weed control neces-
sary In the average perennial bor-
der and compensates for the extra
work Of digging and reworking the
soil. It also does much to insure
the health and vigor of the flower
beds and the pleasure to be derived
from them.
!. The formal garden depends for
Its effectiveness upon having all
parts In exact proportion, thus II
should be laid out carefully upon
paper before work is started Study
the details to see that they have
balance and that each part is relate :
to the general plan. Then selec,
the plant material which will best
carry out the design.
A narrow lot lends itself to .
formal garden design. The series ol
beds are laid out with q view te
balance and line. Grass walks ane
plots provide the setting for the
flowers and shrubs, but all must be
kept trimmed to the lines OF thu
design.
} q.
Dr. Cl