April, 1908 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



131 



Garden Streams and 



By Phebe Westcott Humphreys 



Appropriate Bridges 



A R D E N streams and 

 bridges, in their artistic 

 development, are well 

 illustrated in some notable 

 estates near Philadelphia. 

 There are three distinct 

 types of stream and bridge 

 building on the Jay Cooke estate at Ogontz, 

 valued for their characteristic treatment. 

 One presents a deep natural stream that 

 in the long ago provided the water supply 

 for an old mill which still stands on a part 

 of the estate. When the place came into 

 the possession of the famous financier, he 

 brought the same practical ideas to bear 

 upon his garden building that had brought 

 about his success in the building of a for- 

 tune. Not one suggestion of natural 

 beauty was allowed to be sacrificed in the 

 resurrection of the dilapidated old mill and 

 its neglected water supply. An open vista 

 was arranged through the intervening belt 



:.* *%mm 



A Shallow Stream Charmingly Bridged and Planted 



Low Dams, Irregularly Spaced, Give a Constant Gurgle to the Water 



of woodland, in order that this picturesque 

 bit at the lower slope of the grounds might 

 be in plain view from the upper walks and 

 driveways about the house ; the ancient mill 

 was sufficiently remodeled to preserve it 

 without marring its quaint old-fashioned 

 outlines; the natural growth of fine old 

 trees, with stream borders of briers, water- 

 elders and other native shrubbery, have re- 

 mained undisturbed except for the narrow 

 clearing for winding walks leading down 

 to the stream. No attempt at artificial 

 planting or showy bridging of the stream 

 has been allowed to spoil its wild beauty, 

 only the natural wild flowers outline its 

 shore, the hardy ferns and mosses cling to 

 its steep banks, the sturdy milkweed nods 

 its swaying bloom branches above its own 

 showy reflection, and opens its brown pods 

 to scatter its fluff-winged seeds upon the 

 waters in the autumn; while the trailing 

 partridge vine with its small red berries 

 and evergreen foliage beautifies the spot 

 throughout the winter. Rough logs sup- 



