176 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



May, 1 910 





^ 1 





>. A 





t^ 



i 



I 



% 



^r^f^ 



c 





■4 



i 



L 





'i 



*3mit 



A> 



0<i^^'Zi^l 



'■r;g 



^ 



^^t 



'■'^^W 



J 



^^f^^^'^, 



.> 



^li:!m 



v*^ 



k \r 'V' 



r^ 



\^ v^ ^/L' - fm 



^ 



QBfaH^HKIf«»«.> 



^^^K 



ifiBS^SII^Hi!flK^^^>v'> ^ 



^^^w^i@i^n 











^i^H 



^m 



^^^1?^ 



Bf^ 



Ml., 



American Homes and Gardens' Garden Competition 



The Fifth Prize Garden 



Won by Edward Payson, Esq., of Lexington, Massachusetts 



[HE garden was built at the southerly side 

 of the house, and on a comparatively level 

 piece of land which was used for a hay- 

 field, but which for the past three years 

 had served as a nursery to raise the shrubs 

 needed in improving the appearance of 

 the place. In the fall a part of this land 

 was ploughed, leveled and made ready to plant. The por- 

 tion intended for the garden was approximately one hun- 

 dred feet long and fifty feet wide, but was afterwards ex- 

 tended to allow for the making of some rose beds. The 

 ground between the garden and the street had to be left 

 until the following spring, when it was spaded and seeded. 

 The short pergola shown on the plan forms the connect- 

 ing link between the flower and kitchen gardens. It also 

 gives an opportunity to grow vines where they will not be 

 disturbed, as is often the case when they are allowed to 

 climb on trellises near the house. Its entrance way is 

 planted with crimson ramblers in an artistic profusion, and, 

 while they only endure a short space of time with their bril- 

 liant coloring, they are attractive while their beauty lasts. 



The hedge at the rear of the garden and on the end 

 farthest from the house is California privet, while that on 

 the front and end towards the house is Japanese barberry. 

 The privet plants grew from cuttings obtained from shrubs 

 planted near the old house, while the barberry was raised 

 from seed planted about three years ago. 



Almost all the perennials used were taken from a garden 

 which was located on a knoll near the old house. The 

 garden was planted several years ago, but never did well, 

 owing to the dryness of the ground. In the fall, when 

 moving day, or rather moving week came, we found 

 that by separating the large clumps of perennials we 

 were able to plant almost all of the new garden. 

 At regular intervals along the sides of the central path 

 of the garden are planted specimens of silver-tipped Jap- 

 anese juniper. As these grow Into cone-shaped evergreens 

 they will relieve the flat appearance of the whole garden, as 

 well as make an attractive showing during the winter. 



The edges of the beds were outlined with strips of sod 

 cut in the cow pasture. As soon as the planting was com- 

 pleted, the paths were spaded and seeded. 



In the fall, after planting, a light layer of leaves was 

 spread over the beds. The following spring the plants 

 came up very well, and showed very little loss. The 

 Oriental popples, mullin, pinks and cardinal flowers were 

 the only varieties which seemed to sufter from the effects 

 of the winter. In the few small spaces which were thus left 

 have been planted the seeds of annuals, such as zinnias and 

 popples. 



The remainder of the pergola Is covered with grape 

 vines, forming a pleasing setting to the crimson rambler. 



The boundary line of the garden on the north side Is 

 planted with evergreen trees and other shrubbery, form- 

 ing a wall from the adjoining property and also a protec- 

 tion from the north winds. 



Thus far we have been very much pleased with our new 

 garden, which Is but a year old. As one of the great pleas- 

 ures of having a garden is the privilege to add thereto any 

 new or rare hardy plant which one may find, we are looking 

 forward to a continual enjoyment of our work In the years 

 to come. 



A water pipe was laid from the cellar of the house to the 

 center of the garden. On the end of this pipe Is a garden 

 shut-off sunken into the ground and protected by an iron 

 cover. 



By the use of the arrangement there is no need for 

 a great length of hose and the source of water supply is 

 completely hidden and out of the way. 



On the side of the garden toward the street and outside 

 of the barberry hedge is an irregular border composed of 

 sambucus nigra aiirea, or golden elder, and hydrangea pani- 

 ciilato grandiflora, with tall growing perennial phlox grow- 

 ing along the edge. Early In the spring the golden elder 

 gave us quite a little color, during the latter part of the 

 summer the phlox, with Its many bright colors, has been the 

 center of attraction, while just as these flowers were com- 

 mencing to lose their brilliancy the hydrangeas began to 

 come Into bloom. Even after all these have either disap- 

 peared for the winter or are only leafless branches, we still 

 have In their rear the hedge barberry with Its early autumn 

 tints and its red berries, which look cheerful and bright all 

 winter. So In this border alone it Is arranged to have some- 

 thing that will prove to be attractive to all seasons. 



