18 



THE GREENING PICTORIAL SYSTEM OF LANDSCAPE GARDENING 



ACCENTUATION 



There is one word that de- 

 scribes all artistic compositions. 

 Accentuation is that word. The 

 artist selects the points of 

 emphasis, and every touch of the brush, from the dog 

 upon the sward to the bird upon the wing, is designed to 

 accentuate those points. Following his example let us 

 proceed in developing our picture b}^ planting trees and 

 shrubs to accentuate the beauties of the house, which is 

 ahva3'S the main- feature and, in small grounds, the onlv 

 feature to emphasize. 



With all due respect and admiration for the genius 

 of architects and the beauty of their designs, I believe it 

 is not m their power to build a house that possesses a per- 

 fectly natural pose. The most that can be said is that it 

 is a beautiful artificial creation. No artist would think 

 for a moment of putting a house unadorned upon his can- 

 vas. He drapes vines upon the porch and covers some 

 v^'ide expanse of wall with other vines. He masses large 

 groups of shrubs near the foundation, especially at the 

 entrances, so as to naturalize the house and make us feel 

 that it necessarily grew just where and how it is. 



Next he provides large open lawn-spaces adjoining 

 the house to give the contrasting high lights and for the 

 sense of freedom and repose they give, and this area is 

 absolutely unencumbered save for a few shade-trees placed 

 with due regard to the lines of vision, to the end that deep, 

 beautiful vistas may open from the windows of the living- 

 room. Realizing that gardens are for use he sets aside 

 certain portions of the yard for certain uses, just as each 

 room in a house has its purpose. There are reservations 

 for the rose garden, the cut-flower garden, the vegetable 

 garden, etc., each in an appropriate place; and finally, 

 knowing that the grounds lack character without some 

 definiteness of outline, a heavy framework of shrubs is 

 put around the premises, especially at the back and sides, 

 with particular care to ha\'e the heavier growth at the rear, and 

 all plants set out in large native colonies. Imitating nature he 

 avoids straight lines as much as possible and plants in undulated 

 borders, using at the edges low shrubs of a prostrate habit to 

 serve as a ground cover and to make an easy, natural union with 

 the lawn. Unsightly views are completely shut off with appro- 

 ])nate jMantings, and distant glimpses of water and fleecv skv-line 

 are deftly ap])ropriated to the garden's beauties. Kee])ing in "mind 

 the needs of the family and the ]M-esent tendencv to regard a 

 garden as an "outdoor parkn-," or an extension of the home com- 



forts, the border planting is (all endudi 



gli lo ser\-e as a screen and 



Plate « 



give privacy to the owner and his family; aad in particular a little 

 bower is provided w'here the ladies of the household ma}' find a 

 cool retreat for enjoyment, with perfect freedom from unwelcome 

 intrusion. A shelter-house is built in this little retreat to soften 

 the ardor of the summer sun, and in which tea mav be served 

 after the manner of the Japanese; and to enliven the scenery a 

 'water garden, stocked with fishes and water-lo\ ing plants, is placed 

 near the entrance. This also adds greatly to the pri\-acy of the 

 garden bower. 



Inimediatel)- back of llie house and screened with .shrubs is 

 the dr\-ing-\-ard oi- clothes-jjaildock ; back or that is a reser\-ation 



