204 



The Garden Magazine, December, 1921 



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garden was perforce placed 

 on the hillside above where 

 there is plenty of sunshine; 

 thus enabling Mrs. Cobb, 

 whose window looks out 

 upon the garden, to enjoy a 

 feast of lavender, purple, 

 and pale blue bloom — her 

 favorite colors. 



No planting of any impor- 

 tance was attempted in front 

 of the dwelling except the 

 necessary minimum to soften 

 architectural lines. A gar- 

 den of flowering shrubs and 

 the view of rolling meadows, 

 framed on either side by fine 

 old woods, seemed best left 

 unobscured and unspoiled by 

 elaboration. 



The hillside position of the 

 house made several levels 

 possible, all of which have 



been used to advantage. Entering by a door on the terrace 

 level and going up a flight, one looks across a narrow court 

 supported by a rough stone retaining wall to a bank of trail- 

 ing Roses, flanked by flowering shrubs and dwarf trees with the 

 wooded hillside as a background; turning, one gets a charming 

 view of the rocky, garden-treated ledge framed by a brick arch. 



From the south corner opposite the house you look down a 

 wide grass walk with the great Hemlocks and Spruces on one 



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side, the bank on the other 

 having been planted with 

 native Dogwood and Judas 

 trees for which Azaleas and 

 otherflowering shrubs make a 

 pleasing foreground. Wind- 

 ing paths of native stone lead 

 into the rock garden where 

 many of the favorite old per- 

 ennials grow as luxuriantly as 

 in a border planting, and 

 from the crannies of the steps 

 spring little Moss-pinks, 

 Dianthus deltoides, pale blue 

 Flax (Linum perenne), and 

 their kin. 



Followingthe flight of steps 

 up from the paved terrace in 

 front of the house the visitor 

 comes upon a grass court, 

 whence a little path meanders 

 through a blue-starred carpet 

 of Vinca under the spicy shel- 

 ter of big evergreens to the small, friendly building known as 

 Mr. Cobb's "study," which perches above a clear natural pool 

 fed by springs and fringed with Ferns and native Rhododendron. 

 Wherever feasible, native material was used to carry out the 

 naturalistic effects — Dogwood, Azalea, Laurel, Fern, each con- 

 tributing to a harmonious total — the nursery call of conventional 

 evergreens was at first strong with the Cobbs but, happily, bet- 

 ter counsels prevailed. 



A SPANISH BORDER FOR CALIFORNIA GARDENS 



SYDNEY B. MITCHELL 

 Suggestions for a Brilliant Border Which May Also be Adapted to Many Other Sections 



Editors' Note: Despite the variability of climatic conditions in different sections of the United States many plants seem to ignore these differ- 

 ences and to thrive almost anywhere. In consequence, Mr. Mitchell's scheme for a Spanish border is, in the main, equally applicable in the East 

 where much of the suggested material is also commonly grown. The gardener who loves brilliancy of effect will appreciate the possibilities of 

 this vivid, old-world color combination. 



IHE reminders that California was once a Spanish colony 

 ^nA are now not many. A few old missions, considerably 

 iHi more °ld adobe nouses of unquestionable attraction, 

 and many beautiful names are nearly all we very evi- 

 dently have left. But there is a sentimental looking back toward 

 the old days, and in architecture their influence is becoming 

 quite marked in such sections as Santa Barbara. When there 

 are celebrations, as that of the Portola discovery of San Fran- 

 cisco Bay, the decorations take on a strong red and yellow 

 character. 



This warm combination is the basis of the flower border which 

 I have here planned; for some time I have had such a border 

 in my small garden, varied from year to year so that I might 

 try new things. It has found much favor with visitors, both for 

 its inherent attractive brightness and for its Spanish association. 

 As given, the planting would cover a long, wide border having 

 at the rear shrubs of considerable size and even a few trees, but 

 if the space were narrow the background of shrubs could be 

 eliminated and only the sub-shrubby, herbaceous, and bulbous 

 plants used. The whole plan is intended to be suggestive 

 rather than a literal planting scheme, for doubtless not all the 

 plants will be available in any one garden and for some, ex- 



cellent substitutes may be found. I have made no effort to 

 mention all the possible materials. Some were omitted because 

 too vigorous or spreading; such are the Acacias, the Perennial 

 Sunflowers, and the Verbascums. Spanish Irises, Ixias, and 

 the rarer bulbous flowers which cannot now be imported because 

 of Quarantine No. 37 I have little used as the supplies in this 

 country are still very small. Many annuals might have been 

 added, as Nasturtiums, Annual Chrysanthemums, Stocks, Sweet 

 William, Celsias, and such natives as Layia elegans and Lep- 

 tosyne Stillmani. 



A PLANTING of the type suggested would be best facing 

 south. In that position not only would all the one-sided 

 flowers such as Gladiolus face the path, but the border would 

 have practically continual sunshine, a necessary factor to bring 

 out the warm coloring and give the brilliant effect sought. For 

 that reason such shade lovers as Lilies and Primroses have not 

 been included in the scheme. The planting would be best on 

 level ground because the effects are planned to extend through 

 the garden year and on a slope it is hard to have a good summer 

 show because the ground dries out in spite of irrigation. 



It will be noted that I have not restricted myself to crude 



