TEMPLES AND BELVEDERES 



concrete, it is equally important to select an appro- 

 priate site with fitting background. Both the classic 

 temple and the dainty garden house known as the 

 tempietto or the garden pavilion are carefully placed 

 in a commanding position against a background of 

 green. The heavy foliage of dark evergreen trees 

 brings out the beautiful finish and the carvings of 

 these stately white buildings in all their charming 

 detail. With the dark green background three sides 

 of the buildings are exposed to view from three 

 approaches along the garden paths. When ap- 

 proached from the woodland thicket or the massed 

 evergreens that form the background, the presence 

 of the pure white building comes as a delightful sur- 

 prise to the chance visitor ; and its commanding view 

 overlooking the terraced gardens possesses a fas- 

 cination that never palls. 



The mistake most commonly made in the setting 

 of these garden temples, belvederes, or tempietto, is 

 the attempt to enhance their beauty by vine drapier- 

 ies. No matter how delicate the vine tendrils or how 

 beautiful the climbing rose that is trained about the 

 white columns and over the arched or domed roof, 

 the very presence of the green drapery shows lack of 

 taste and lack of knowledge of the original settings 

 which established true temple beauty. A wealth of 

 flowering shrubbery and brilliant perennials may be 



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