THE SMALL PLACE 



shrubs and vines and small trees. It is the pur- 

 pose of the small shrubs to soften the fixed 

 rectangular lines of the house with gracefully 

 curving and spreading branches, to nestle close 

 to the foundations, and be a link between the 

 house wall and the lawn. The shrubs are planted 

 closely together to give continuous effect of foliage 

 in summer and of twigs and branches in winter. 

 The use of one kind of plant would be monoto- 

 nous, the use of too many kinds spotty, not only 

 in flower effect but in foliage values. Spircea 

 thunbergii and Stephanandra flexuosa are planted 

 along the front of the house, an Actinidia vine 

 tumbles luxuriantly over the porch railing, a Wis- 

 taria climbs up the corner of the house, and climb- 

 ing Roses and Peonies are planted under the south 

 window. Together, they form an intermittent suc- 

 cession of bloom from late April to late June. 



Lilacs are used to form the high part of the 

 south shrubbery and are the main feature of it. 

 A predominance of one kind of shrub, especially 

 in so small a border, is one way of insuring a har- 

 monious foliage effect and of avoiding a spotty 

 effect. With two kinds of Forsythia, Rugosa 

 Roses, and Snowberries, the bloom lasts from April 

 until August. Though the house shrubbery and 



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