Show V 11 4 LEAF AND FLOWER ADD BEAUTY TO THE HOME by eben E rexf d to the writer u MI exposed foundation always seem unfinished it needs the grace of growing plants to take away the bare look which is neier pleasant no matter how eapen she the foundation may be there Is a beauty in leaf and flower that can not be put into stone and mortar illustration no 1 makes clearer the idea I 1 have in mind about biding the foundation walls than any verbal one illustration no 1 can in it the house seams to be less prominent than it would be it no plants grew there and it therefore lacks that aggressive tone which char the house whose walls are not relieved by growing plants perhaps I 1 may be allowed to use this expression the use of plants close to the house while not detract ing in the least from the dignity and importance of it prevents us from looking upon it as something that boldly challenges the attention an idea not in keeping with the home sense which ought to characterize the building in which those live who care less tor show and admiration than for beauty all of us have seen houses which seem to absolutely force themselves upon our attention we may admire them in a way but it is a way with which the idea of home is not associated but if shrubs and perre nials and vines were planted about them their eness would be hidden or at least modified and we would soon begin to think of them as homes instead of houses no very tall growing plants should be used anywhere about the house it they will interfere with the outlook windows are made to let in light and sunshine and we cannot afford to darken them with bushes or vines in the first illustration just enough ines are used to soften the outlines of the building it will be observed A vine used in this way has a chance to display ita individuality you see all its charm of leaf and habit of growth but when trained as shown in illustration no 2 this indi vidu allty is lost here we have loo much of a good thing the windows are darkened free outlook is inter with and the general effect is monotonous one vine planted at the corner and trained along the cornice over the windows with a few branches allowed to droop here and there would have given a much more satisfactory ef feet the only admirable feature of this illustration Is the planting along the wall but here as with the vines matters seem almost overdone there Is a crowded effect take another look at no 1 and note the difference the best plants to use about the base of the bouse are those which do not grow much higher than the wall among hardy kinds there is nothing better than the dwarf varieties of perennial phlox and the herba cebus spires along with these can be sued such annuals as the dastur alum nicot lana aster ten week stock illustration no 2 and coreopsis here geraniums and coleus can be made to do duty in sum mer bulbs for cany blooming can bo scattered along the outer edge close to the path to edge the planting panales pan bealls verrenis per renis and the low growing varieties of phlox can be used effectively to furnish brilliance in midsummer the gladiolus can be planted in groups here and there and the tuberose to give bloom and fra grance later in the season copyright 1909 |