40 



THB GRBBNING PICTORIAL SYSTBM OF LANDSCAPB GARDBNIN G 



WATER GARDENS 



WATER has a peculiar charm for most peo]:)le, and 

 a small water garden, stocked with fishes and filled 

 with aquatic plants, adds greatly to the picturesque beauty 

 of home grounds. This is especially true of certain yards 

 that are naturally dull and inert and which, somehow, 

 refuse to respond to all ordinary treatment. In such 

 cases the introduction of a water garden gives a new 

 aspect to the place, transforming it at once into a scene 

 of freshness and animation. 



It is easy to grow water plants. All they need is 

 water, sunshine and good soil enriched with cow manure. 

 The basin may be made of cement or puddled clay, while 

 for the smaller varieties common tubs will do. On large 

 estates, containing ponds or sluggish streams, a great 

 assortment can be grown, including the Wild Rice, Cat- 

 tail, Sweet Flag,- etc., but care should be taken to keep 

 the seed moist from the time it is gathered until sowed 

 in the water where it is to grow. Mr. Carl E. Schmidt 

 of Detroit informs me that he tried for years to colonize 

 AA' ikl Rice in his marshes in the northern part of the State, 

 but always without success, until it occurred to him to 

 pack the seed in moist cotton, when the experiment was 

 successful. 



In building water gardens it is well to use some tufa 

 stone for the borders and, in large ponds, floral rockeries 

 and fountains can be built of it in the form of small 

 islands. Tufa stone is petrified vegetation showing the 

 stems of plants in many dainty colors. 



Natural scenery is the most pleasing >\ hen it comprises a body 

 of water, or what may be called, a water.scape, and the estate that 

 possesses a sman lake, creek or rill, has " prize beyond price. It 

 then becomes a major garden featu-x and, being supplied naturally, 

 there is no initial cost, the outlay being solely for trees and plants 

 Ijetween the approaches to the water. A small body of water is 

 mafle to look quite large by masking portions of it from every 

 \-iewpoint, as this partial concealment makes it suggestive of larger 

 areas hidden in the offscape. In the case of streams of some size, 

 if the topography of the ground allows it, a charming eft'ect if, 

 gained b\- interce])ting their course with rocks, shelving tliem in 

 such a way as to form musical cascades. 



Near a lake or large stream the Willows are \'ery appropriate, 

 especially the old-fashioned P>al)ylonica, and the newer \-arieties. 

 llie AVisconsin Willow and Thurlow's AA'^eeping AA'illow. .All 



Plate 39 



PERGOLA OVERLOOKING A GARDEN 

 The original meaning of a pergola is that of a structure overlooking a garden 

 from some high vantage point, and the one pictured above fulfills these conditions; 

 however, it is not the meaning that we attach to the word to-day. The above view 

 shows a park scene with a lagoon beautifully banked, a geyser fountain springing 

 out of a rockery in the middle of it, a beautiful cement bow-bridge and some trees 

 in the distance, mostly Maples and Elms. 



branch near the ground, slightlv incline towards the water and 

 give a delightful shade. In connection with these the tall spire- 

 like Lombardy Poplars give delightful contrasts, as each intensifies 

 the peculiar charm of the other. Of shrubs for this purpose none 

 surpass the Dogwoods, in variety. 



AAHien artificialh- created, water efi:"ects are somewhat costly, 

 and it is rather unusual to build them on a large scale, a fountain 

 or tiny rill or a basin for plants being all that is necessary ; and this 

 is always an interesting part of a garden, if care is exercised to 

 guard against studied effects and to invest them with an air of 

 naturalness. 



Anvone intending to lay out a water garden will do well to 

 consult with the Greening Landscape Company, as expert advice 

 is necessarv for each individual case. AA'e have had a wide 

 experience in this class of work, all of which is at the command 

 of patrons. 



