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Foundation Planting — wilhelm miller, 
IT QUICKLY TRANSFORMS A HOUSE INTO A HOME, AND IS THEREFORE THE FIRST OUTSIDE IMPROVEMENT 
EVERY HOUSE-OWNER SHOULD MAKE 
T he transformation shown in the ac- 
companying pictures is so remark- 
able that it hardly seems possible 
sucb things can be done in only 
three years. Every visitor to my old home at 
Urbana, 111., spoke as if there were something 
magical in the process. And so there is, in the 
sense that all growing things are wonderful. 
We are so absorbed in other work that each 
change in the things we have planted seems 
wonderful to us even though we live with them 
the year round. 
By “foundation planting” we mean the 
placing of shrubs and vines around the base of 
a house. This phrase is so new that 
it has come into common use within 
the last five years. When they first 
hear it some people imagine it refers 
to some kind of planting which the 
landscape architects consider funda- 
mental in the design of home grounds. 
And so it does. Only one thing is 
more fundamental than foundation 
planting, namely, the lawn. But no 
matter how perfect a lawn may be, it 
alone cannot make a house look like 
a home. That is the function of 
foundation planting. The explana- 
nation of this garden magic is three- 
fold. Foundation planting takes 
away the raw or new look; it hides 
ugly foundations; it connects house 
and lawn, which have been separated 
hitherto by a hard right angle and by 
sharp, straight lines on all sides of the 
house. 
In defining foundation planting I 
have said nothing about trees. They 
are to frame the view of the house, 
1 heoretically they are even more im- 
portant than foundation planting be- 
cause they outline the home picture, 
while shrubs and vines merely give 
the finishing touches. Practically, 
however, most of us have to 
wait a good many years be- 
fore our trees will arch over 
the roof in that affectionate 
way which Elms and paint- 
ers seem to love. The 
millionaire may accomplish 
this at once by moving four 
great trees to the corners of 
his house at a cost of — say 
$ 400 . But something is 
lacking. The picture is 
still cold. It needs warmth 
and color. Flowers will 
help mightily the first year, 
but they cannot unite house 
and lawn. Shrubs can, be- 
cause Ahey are more per- 
manent and substantial. 
But shrubs, flowers, and 
trees all working together 
can only spell “fine house 
and beautiful planting.” 
Ibere must be a mystic 
writing upon the wall. To the wizard vine 
is reserved the privilege of putting on the last 
exquisite touch that spells for everybody the 
most precious of all words — home. 
For everyreason,therefore,foundation plant- 
ing is the first outside improvement that should 
be made around every building, whether for 
domesticor commercial purposes. Fortunately, 
this expense is one that every one can afford. 
Any foundation planting is better than none, 
but the finest effects are the results of expert 
design. The principles are easy to understand : 
It is well to cover a whole house with vines 
only when it is ugly and of brick. If the house 
is of wood, trellises should be provided. If the 
architecture is good the vines should be placed 
where they will cover no fine detail. \'ines at 
or near the corners will help to frame the view 
of the house, \bnes on either side of doors 
give a note of welcome. Vines on chimneys 
give a spirited look to a house; they are like an 
exclamation point. The tall shrubs should be 
next to the house and the smaller ones in front. 
The tall ones should not be so high as to inter- 
fere with living room windows. Put no 
shrubs in front of cellar windows, or they will 
cut off needed light. The beginner, in his en- 
thusiasm for foundation planting is likely to 
overdo a good thing by planting solidly around 
the house. In that case the house may seem to 
be growing out of a bushy swamp rather than 
out of dry ground. It is better to leave one 
place clear on each side of the house, because 
we all unconsciously like to see some con- 
nection with the ground. If the walks are too 
close to the house to admit of shrubs, use vines 
and bulbs inside and shrubs outside the walks. 
1 he latter will hide the concrete from the 
passerby, and will “support tbe house,” as 
architects say. 
In the selection of material there are certain 
principles which I can bring out best by telling 
the story of my own experience. I thought 
first of the tallest vines. English Ivy 
or Climbing Evonymus would be my first 
choice, since these are evergreen; but they are 
not hardy in central Illinois. Japan 
Ivy is the favorite tall climber, but 
the hot summers are too much for it 
on the south and west sides of build- 
ings in our town. I therefore chose 
the Illinois Creeper, or Englemann 
Ivy, because it would climb to the 
top of a chimney in three years. 
This beautiful vine is a variety of 
the well known Virginia Creeper or 
Five-fingered Woodbine, which has 
the great practical advantage of 
being self-supporting. In autumn 
the foliage turns a brilliant red, more 
scarlet, according to its friends, than 
the ordinary Virginia Creeper. I 
have never seen a good word in print 
about its spring effect, and I must say 
that the new shoots are charming 
because they anticipate the autumn 
colors. This is not true of the wild 
creeper that I find in the forest near 
by. 
The name “Engelmann Ivy” no 
doubt was given in honor of the cele- 
brated Dr. Engelmann of St. Louis, 
who began his botanical career at his 
boyhood home in Belleville, 111. For 
some reason unknown to me the 
name Engelmann seems to be too 
hard for the American 
eople to spell or remem- 
er, and therefore I pro- 
posed informally two years 
ago that the plant be called 
“Illinois Creeper” after the 
state m which Dr. Engel- 
mann did his first botanical 
collecting. The word 
“creeper” is appropriate, as 
indicating a connection with 
the better known Virginia 
Creeper. fhe word “Ivy” 
is inappropriate because the 
plant is not evergreen. 1 he 
new name seems to have 
found general favor with the 
public and has been ac- 
cepted by some botanists 
and nurserymen. So far as 
I know, this is the first ex- 
planation of the name that 
has been published. The 
plant itself, I am glad to 
say, can be secured from many nurserymen, 
who commonly advertise it as Ampelopsis 
Engelmanni, though they generally misspell 
the latter name. 
To return to the selection of vines, I thought 
next of the front door. Immediately there 
came to mind a vision of the first creations 
among Memorial Roses, as I saw them years 
ago at the home of the late Jackson Dawson. 
How bare is the appearance of a new house without foundation planting. Com- 
pare with the lower photograph on opposite page 
The rear view of a new house distresses the owner until someuiing grows there. The house on the left is 
seen again in the upper facing picture 
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