40 
Laboratory Plaza 
Nothing has contributed more to the attractiveness of the Gar- 
den as a whole than the completion of the Laboratory Plaza. The 
central motif is a circular compass 18 feet in diameter. The rays 
e ter- 
— 
of the compass are paved with vellow, red, and black marb 
razzo. The yellow marble is from Siena, Italy; the red from 
Massa, Italy; and the black from Mazy, Belgium. At the center 
of the compass is a bronze armillary sphere, serving as a sun-dial, 
and designed by our landscape architect, Mr. Harold A. Caparn. 
The figures representing the signs of the zodiac were designed and 
modeled by his daughter, Miss Rhys Caparn. The sphere is 
mounted on a beautiful pedestal of Carver black granite, from 
Vinal Haven, Maine, encircled near the top with a bronze band 
bearing the following old classical sun-dial motto: 
Serene [ stand amyddst ye flowres 
To tell ye passing of ye howres. 
The pedestal rests on an octagonal platform of Stony Creek (Con- 
necticut) pink granite. 
No single object in the Garden has attracted more constant at- 
tention than this Armillary Sphere. There is a group of people 
around it almost continuously, and = teachers frequently bring 
classes there for a lesson based upon the dial. 
At either end of the north and south grass panels are garden 
urns of classic design, 3 feet, 6 inches high. 
Planting of the Plasa—The Magnolia area has been extended 
so as to include the Plaza, the planting being confined to Magnolia 
species and to shrubs belonging to the same family. The only ex- 
ceptions are the edging of [English Ivy and Euonymus alatus var. 
compacta, which are a part of the design only, but not a part of 
the labeled collection. The planting of this Plaza was provided 
for by the generous gift of $1,502 raised by subscription by our 
Woman’s Auxiliary. 
The new planting of Tulips along the west side of the lexperi- 
mental Garden is recorded in the report of the Horticulturist (p. 
89). This should make an interesting exhibit in 1934. 
The transfer of the Paconics to new beds near the north end of 
Cherry Walk 1s also recorded on page &9. 
