WINDOW GARDEN 

 ATTRACTIONS 



By C. W. H. DOUGLASS 



THE window box, as a means of re- 

 lieving and beautifying the stern 

 face of the modern oflfice building, 

 is becoming more and more popular as 

 people realize that hot only is it an inspira- 

 tion and pleasure, but also has a practical 

 value. Numerous observations have shown 

 that the use of plants in this way makes an 

 excellent advertisement, and the eflfect upon 

 employees within whose range of vision 

 the plants are placed is wholesome and 

 conducive to better work. 



Developing a system of parks, beautify- 



Courtesy of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 



A MORE FORMAL ARRANGEMENT, IN A BOX WITH 

 SEVERER LINES 



This box is arranged to give a slightly more formal effect than 

 that above. The plants are pandanus veitchii, caladium, canna, 

 English ivy and vinca major. 



ing the grounds in close proximity to public 

 buildings, encouraging the decoration of 

 the home grounds, and adding a touch of 

 softening decoration to the buildings in 

 the business section are all factors in the 

 problem of beautifying a city. The last 

 one is the least developed, due no doubt to 

 a lack of proper appreciation of the results 

 that can be attained as well as to the in- 

 herent difficulties presented by this type of 

 building. There is no possibility, except 

 in rare cases, of planting trees to grace 

 the view because of lack of space. Like- 

 wise, the use of shrubbery is impossible, 

 and climbing vines, which have such a 

 softening effect, have no place to take root. 

 The only means remaining for decorating 

 the office building are the tubbed ornamen- 

 424 



Courtesy o; ihe .Ut^souri Botanical Garden. 



AN INFORMAL ARRANGEMENT OF FLOWERS IN A BARK-COVERED BOX 



This window box, covered with bark and filled with Boston fern, anthericum, boxwood, rubber 

 plant, vinca major.Kentia palm, geranium and hibiscus, makes a very attractive .window garden. 



tal trees or shrubs at the entrances and 

 the window boxes. 



Because the windows far outnumber the 

 entrances, the window box is the more im- 

 portant of the two. At the same time it 

 offers a much greater opportunity for vari- 

 ety in decoration. It may be a riot of color 

 or a dignified and unobtrusive bit of decora- 

 tion. And with the changes of season an 

 endless variety of plants may be used in 

 their most beautiful stages of development 

 and bloom. 



Good taste must of course be exercised 

 in selecting the type and size of box to 

 be used. Boxes made of wood are most 

 popular because of their light weight and 

 relative cheapness as compared with those 

 made of concrete, terra cotta, or vitrified 

 clay. Cypress, redwood, cedar, chestnut. 



* AN ARTISTIC GROUPING IN A BOX COVERED WITH BIRCH BARK 



Vinca major, asparagus sprengeri, petunia, vinca rosea, coleus and_ Boston fern in a window 

 box made of wood and covered with birch bark. This gives a good idea of the effect obtained 

 by placing the plants close together in the box. 



