HOME GROUNDS 151 



its bare branches, and the summer with its green 

 foliage, make no appeal. A similar statement might 

 be made with regard to the work of painters and 

 musicians, yet a knowledge and appreciation of 

 painting and music add greatly to one's comfort 

 and enjoyment in life, and so would a knowledge 

 of landscape-gardening and an appreciation of the 

 beauty of nature. The landscape-gardener can do 

 no more useful thing for his client than to teach 

 him to see this beauty, since, by so doing, he will 

 give him more pleasure in living during the entire 

 remaining portion of his life. The space which 

 has been called "the front yard" and which may 

 lie on at least three sides of a house is especially 

 adapted to show natural beauty because it is seen 

 so constantly. "Front yard" may not be the best 

 term to apply to this space. It has been called 

 the owner's Garden of Eden, and it is a garden in its 

 best sense, yet to use the term "garden" might 

 bring to mind a vegetable- or flower-garden, features 

 which should ordinarily be kept out of the front 

 yard. This yard may indeed have many flowers, 

 but these blossoms should come naturally like those 

 on a hawthorn, crab-apple, lilac, or in a peony or 

 iris bed. Such flowers do not interfere with the 



