Under a huge cypress tree a pergola is entwined with honeysuckle vines and 



Spanish moss 



This pergola, in the Garden of Chapultepec, emphasizes the idea of holding 

 out a welcome to the visitor 



The Gardens of Old Mexico— By Anita M. Miller 



WHERE THE INTIMATE RELATION OF THE GARDEN AND THE OWNER GIVES IT A REALITY 

 AND MAKES THE OUTDOORS SOMETHING TO BE ENJOYED IN PRIVACY AND QUIET 



*" I S HE most distinguishing characteristics 

 -*- of Mexican gardens arise from the 

 fact that they are made to live in, not for, 

 display, like many of those in the neighbor- 

 ing country north of the Rio Grande. They 

 express a phase of the home life of an artistic 

 and pleasure loving people. The gray 

 walls that shut in these symphonies of color 

 and perfume also fortunately protect the gay, 

 careless, though withal somewhat ceremoni- 

 ous Mexican family life from the vulgar 

 gaze of the loud-voiced tourist. 



The Mexican gardener appreciates first 

 of all the value of shade in the brilliant 

 atmosphere of his country's high altitudes, 

 and plants avenues of evergreens that afford 

 long vistas of leafy green. He loves the sound 



of running water, and where it is available 

 has his little stream along the banks of 

 which calla lilies flourish, or if the space is 

 limited, just a fountain or a central pool 

 where sunlight and shadows play. He uses 

 color, too, with a free hand, notably in great 

 masses of pink ivy geranium that cover the 

 garden walls or climb the tall trunks of 

 eucalyptus trees; bougainvilleas, flingiug 

 their vivid blooms up as high as the third 

 story balconies; and nasturtium trailing over 

 rockwork or climbing iron grating. Even in 

 the dense shade of cypress trees the mal- 

 vaviscus flames scarlet and the calla lily 

 gleams white, or the ground is covered with 

 blue forget-me-nots. 



But above all things the Mexican gardener 



is painstaking and careful in detail — he 

 does not leave rough edges. Notice, for 

 instance how the little space between hedge 

 and cobblestone walk is filled in with begonia 

 and forget-me-not; how the walk in the 

 pergola is separated from the honeysuckle 

 vines by a little railing of rose twigs; and 

 the crevices in the rock-work are filled in 

 with sempervivums and ferns. 



The love of flowers and growing things is 

 not limited to the well-to-do in Mexico. By 

 the low back door of the humblest hut, where 

 in my country we would find a pile of gar- 

 bage and tin cans, the eye is charmed by a 

 clump of four-o'clocks or hollyhocks or a 

 red geranium with a bird-cage hanging 

 above it. 



The walk is bordered by Iris hexagona. The wall 

 covered with ivy geraniums, heliotrope and 

 '\rtiums 



Entrance to garden of very poor people. Just 

 an opening between the -wall and cactus hedge. 

 Fverybody has his garden in Mexico 



10 



Bougainvillea vine in patio of old. house at 

 Tlalpam. The bright colors of the flowers and the 

 luxuriant growth make it a very valuable vine 



