i6o 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



September, 1906 



A Brick Wall, Bordered Below with Plants, Supports the Upper Terrace Next the House 



ent on the further side of 

 the house, where the whole 

 of the flower-garden is com- 

 pletely visible from the 

 doorway to the upper ter- 

 race or from any of the 

 windows on this side. The 

 first impression is that of a 

 vast sunken garden, for the 

 garden is entirely below one. 

 The next is that of a rich 

 floral pattern spread out on 

 the hillside. Both impres- 

 sions are correct, although 

 the latter is the true one. A 

 sunken garden implies a 

 certain artificiality in its 

 situation, but the depths of 

 this garden are wholly 



These roses do not be- 

 long to Mr. Mather, but he 

 has the exceptional advant- 

 age of living on the road 

 which is decorated by them. 

 Just at a turn, and some- 

 what in a hollow, is the 

 brick gateway that leads to 

 his grounds. The entrance- 

 road plunges immediately 

 into a dense wood, which 

 not only utterly screens the 

 house from outward view, 

 but scarcely suggests a habi- 

 tation at all. These woods 

 are continued almost im- 

 mediately to the entrance- 

 court of the house. They 

 are wild and luxuriant, left 

 in their natural state and 

 without the cleaning up and 

 manifest care that makes 

 some woods seem almost un- 

 natural. As yet the visitor 

 has seen no garden and 

 scarce a hint of cultivation 

 and arrangement. 



The story is very differ- 



Brick Steps Descend to the Lower Terrace ; Above is a Vine-Covered Archway with Steps on Either Side 



Each Terrace Has its Flower Border of Hardy Blooming Plants 



natural, since the hillside de- 

 scends almost abruptly im- 

 mediately below the house, 

 and if there be the effect of 

 a sunken garden it is only 

 because it has been placed 

 on a slope. 



Direct relationship be- 

 tween the house and the gar- 

 den is effected by means of 

 two terraces, each provided 

 with a central flight of 

 steps. The upper terrace 

 wall is completely covered 

 with vines; the lower is bare 

 in itself, but is partly 

 screened by plants growing 

 at its base. Beyond is the 

 formal garden proper, a 

 vast rectangular space 



