THH GRBBNING LANDSCAPE COMPANY, MONROE, MICHIGAN 61 



INFORMAL GARDEN WITH LARGE OPEN LAWN 



An informal garden of great beauty. The contrast of open 

 lawn and heavy border planting is most agreeable. The shrubs 

 near the house are Spiraea Van Houttei, those bordering the lawn 

 are of many varieties intermixed. The large tree in front of the 

 house is an Elm. 



This is one of the finest examples of artistic garden com- 

 position in this book. The reader will understand it at a glance 

 and see that the idea of an open lawn treatment with a heavy 

 border planting makes a pleasing picture. There is no limit to 

 the application of this idea, the permutations being as numerous 

 as the sands of the sea. The house is a sort of cross between the 

 Mission and Moorish styles of architecture^ and the shrubs at 

 its base are shaped by the Greening System of summer pruning 

 to make them conform with its outlines. This idea of pruning 

 originated with myself, and whilst the innovation was regarded 

 with suspicion at first, it is now followed by a number of gar- 

 deners, some of whom are not quite generous enough to give 

 credit for the idea. But no matter — the public gets the benefit 

 anyhow. 



I'late 63. Jiituritial Oardeii witli Large Open I. awn 



DEUTZIA GRACILIS FOR A NARROW SPACE 



On many properties there is a narrow space of ground be- 

 tween the sidewalk and the foundation wall which is hard to 

 treat. It is impossible to grow grass satisfactorily and if it 

 were it is unmanageable with a mower. The best thing to do is 

 to plant the space with Deutzia Gracilis, which is a low, dense- 

 growing shrub that makes a fine ground-cover and is very beauti- 

 ful in June when covered with a mass of snow-white blossoms. 

 It is a shrub that does well in the sun or shade, and can be used 

 on any side of a building. Berberis Thunbergii is also adapted for 

 this purpose, but the border must be closely sheared, as it is 

 thorny and liable to catch in a lady's dress and pull a thread, a 

 happenstance that ruffles both the garment and the wearer 

 thereof. 



If the rpace is at least five feet in width taller shrubs may 

 be used, say Philadelphus Aurea, the erect-growing Spiraeas like 

 Billardi and Sorbifolia, as well as the Privets, in variety. On the 

 sunny side of the house, if the ground is fairly rich, the Baby 

 Rambler makes a good bedding plant for this purpose. 



plate 54. Shrubs for a Narrow Space 



