PLANTING THE HOME GROUNDS 25 



(4) for individual beauty. For shade or screen purposes, long-lived 

 trees of fairly rapid growth and luxuriant, restful green foliage are desira- 

 ble. For framing the view of the house the length and width of the 

 approach and the general scale of the whole place determine whether 

 high or low trees are used, and what form is best. 



Trees used purely as decorative "furnishings" for the public area 

 must not contrast too sharply in form or color with those used for 

 shade, screening or framing. It is better to keep trees of special 

 interest at the sides, where they may serve as accents in the border 

 planting. 



Around the house itself and around or in the private areas or 

 "outdoor rooms", trees are used for seven purposes: ( 1 ) to screen un- 

 pleasant surroundings from view; (2) to frame or call attention to 

 attractive views; (3) to furnish a setting or background for the house, 

 i. c., provide transition between rigid architectural lines or masses 

 and the sky, other buildings or similar sharply contrasting backgrounds ; 

 (4) for shading house or private areas; (5) as protection against 

 wind, dust, etc. ; (6) to furnish the private areas (here again it is 

 best to keep such "decorative furnishings" for the most part out of the 

 center of the private areas and employ them as accents at proper points 

 in the border planting) ; (7) for their individual beauty, flowers, or 

 fruit. 



Shrubs are used in the public area principally to define the limits 

 of the area denote the "walls" of the "reception room". They 

 also serve to screen the surroundings from the house, and give a feel- 

 ing of individual privacy. Perhaps a few specimens with special 

 interest are used as "decorative furnishings", but they should be kept 

 to the borders the same as specimen trees. A simple, dignified expanse 

 of lawn leading up to the house makes the most pleasing approach. 



About the house and in the private areas shrubs continue to serve 

 for defining areas, screening one area from another (e- g., service from 

 recreation area) and for screening the surroundings from the house to 

 obtain privacy and close out unpleasant views. In addition transition 

 between vertical house line and horizontal ground line is effected by a 

 so-called "foundation planting" of shrubbery. Transition is also hap- 

 pily obtained by shrubbery where awkward changes in grade, in archi- 

 tectural forms or where faults in design and construction occur. 



Shrubs for "decorative furnishings" are used in private areas and 

 near the house more than in the public area, for it is natural to reserve 

 most of our treasured objects of beauty for the more intimate portion 

 of our home. The most desirable specimens are often incorporated in 

 the garden. 



