128 



THB GREENING PICTORIAL SYSTEM OP LANDSCAPE GARDENING 



A FACT TO REMEMBER 



A MODERN house costs a great deal of money, and 

 much of the cost is incurred for beauty's sake. And 

 it is money weh spent. It is human nature — and the best 

 type of human nature — to hke l^eautiful surroundings. 

 A large portion of the expenditure on a house is devoted 

 to the little graces of ornamentation that are the very 

 yeast of life — a frieze here, a moulding there, a higher 

 polish everywhere. These are the things that ennoble 

 life, that give a sparkle to the eye and shape a smile upon 

 the lip. 



And yet many people who are very particular about 

 the finish of a house and its interior appointments are 

 utterly indifferent to the outlook from their windows. 

 They spend, as a matter of course, considerable money 

 for pictures to hang on their walls — usually of someone 

 else's pictured home — never once thinking that a small 

 investment will make a living picture of their own homes. 

 And the amazing thing is that many otherwise progres- 

 sive and well-intentioned people take that point of view. 



As a matter of fact, one-half of the money we spend 

 on our houses is for beauty. The other half would erect 

 the same four warm walls and the same roof but without 

 the Queen-Annie knicknacks of ornamentation. But we 

 go further than this. We like to have beautiful walls 

 and beautiful pictures on them. An earthen floor would 

 do but we prefer polished hardwood. And all this art 

 has come about because our souls can see ; for art is but 

 beauty seen with the eye of the soul. Those who see no 

 beauty in anything have no soul. 



At what point shall we cease our expenditures for 

 beauty ? Having spent 50 per cent, extra on the house 

 itself, would an outlay of 5 per cent, on the grounds be 

 extravagant ? 



And know you this, that the garden will grow into 

 greater beauty and value year by year. It is the only 

 investment that will continue to appreciate, whilst the 

 house and all its appointments begin to wear away as 

 soon as they are used. The same sun and the same rain 

 that cause the house to deteriorate and finally disintegrate 

 are the warden's dearest friends. 



Plate 184 



RESIDENCE OF PAUL DE LONGPRE - 



The World's Greatest Painter of Flower-Forms, Los Angeles, California 



The architecture of Los Angeles — especially in the residence portion of the city — 

 is picturesque, but with few exceptions not ostentatious. The most beautiful house 

 is that of Paul de Longpre, the king of flower painters, as he has often been called. 

 It is a Moorish villa, surrounded by a most beautiful garden. Mrs. John A. Logan, 

 while attending the Congress of Mothers in California, visited this delightful spot, 

 and pronounced it a veritable Garden of Eden. In his letter transmitting the above 

 photograph to me, dated August 15, 1910, and writtten in French, Mr. de Longpre says: 



" I send you the most recent photo taken of my garden, which is nearly three 

 acres in extent, being 500 feet wide by 200 feet deep. The foreground is filled with 

 white daisies and roses of every tint. Wishing you much success, I remain," 



Detroit, Mich., August 23, 1910. 



Dear Mr. Greening: — I want to write you a few words of appreciation for the 

 landscape work you did for me last spring. 



It has been a s.ource of much pleasure to nie to watch all season the wonderful 

 growth and transformation of the hare ground about my home to a beautiful garden 

 of flowers and shrubbery. I am glad also that I left the selection and planting entirely 

 in your hands. It certainly reflects great credit on you and your firm. 1 shall alwaj'S 

 be an enthusiastic booster for you whenever I get the chance. ^^'illiam Born. 



