54 CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS. 



garden, until a mocking-bird begins to sing, at first low and softly, almost 

 under his breath, at last ravished with the glory of the moon, he pours 

 forth a full-voiced song, full of sweetness more tender and more pleading 

 in the rising cadence than the joyous song he sings when the sun shines 

 brightly." 



This beautiful manifestation of nature-loving arose from Mrs. Sher- 

 man's life in a valley where planting of tall poplars and eucalyptus, as wind- 

 breaks along highways and property lines, has widely prevailed. As the 

 strongest winds in California are southerly and northerly, except on the 

 immediate coast, the pictures Mrs. Sherman paints are fortunately attained 

 by the same east and west planting which affords greatest protection. 

 Therefore her suggestion is not only beautifully expressed, but is of direct 

 practical advantage. 



SUN AND WIND IN THE HOT VALLEYS. 



In the interior foothill and valley situations shade from the midday sun 

 is grateful to many flowering plants. Such a sunshade on the south line 

 of the garden as Mrs. Sherman has in mind is that along one of the most 

 beautiful avenues on the Eisen vineyard, Fresno. It is of tall Lombardy 

 poplars, alternated with red oleanders, while overhead are trained grape- 

 vines. The oleanders are full of bloom in the summer and the aroma 

 makes the air heavy with an oriental sweetness. In the autumn there comes 

 the scent of grapes and the purple, red and white clusters strung overhead 

 on the brown stems, with the tinted leaves, are tone pictures. This avenue, 

 made of the simplest and cheapest growths of the country, is one of the 

 most successful for a valley situation and is practicable wherever summer 

 heat is adequate to the full blooming of the oleander and mountain freezing 

 does not injure it in the open-air freedom which it widely enjoys in Cali- 

 fornia. Partial shade is a real issue in interior heat and should generally 

 be planned and planted for. It will give much fuller satisfaction with sweet 

 peas, pansies, asters, gladioli and other flowers which bloom in midsum- 

 mer. If shade can be supplied during a few hours of the afternoon, either 

 by planting in the shade of other plants or trees or by artificial means, in 

 the rear garden, it is desirable. 



Hot north winds are also very injurious to plants, especially in spring, 

 when tender foliage and buds are out. The entire crop of spring roses may 

 be destroyed by one severe wind. When possible, a protection should be 

 supplied. An evergreen hedge or trees, sufficient to break the force of the 

 wind, will greatly insure the safety of the flower garden. Therefore, as we 

 have been pleading for openness in the front areas, we reverse the argu- 

 ment for the side and rear areas and bespeak for them a certain degree of 

 seclusion and protection as the local climatic conditions may justify, and 

 these blessings also the household, which can so well make the California- 

 garden a living-place, will appreciate and enjoy. 



