ja 
The sundial is a much over- 
done "ornament” and elabo- 
rate kinds do not fit well into 
the American garden art 
Accessories for Anybody’s Garden 
By Loring and Leland Boston, M ass. 
The wooden seat is adaptable to any garden and may be made in rough cedar or well trimmed wood in Colonial style, 
with high back and solid curved arms; best painted a decorous white. A bird house is shown on the left 
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The gazing globe of crystal 
glass has the association of 
historical sentiment in the 
garden and fits formality 
C haracter and cost, or cost 
and character, are the two fea- 
tures the garden owner should 
consider after his planting has 
been laid out and the architectural acces- 
sories are to be installed. At first glance 
it would seem that there must be an un- 
limited opportunity for the creative imagin- 
ation, but custom has a firmer hold here 
even than in the design of men’s clothes, and 
convention is all powerful. 
Let us consider a small tract of land next 
the “every day” house, and remember that 
elaborate features are neither practicable 
nor in keeping. We are not working on 
an Italian Villa, a French Chateau, nor 
an English Palace, but for an American 
Home, so let us rely on common sense 
and not habit. A little clear 
thinking often leads to more artistic 
and original results than blindly 
following a fashion used, say, by a 
Roman in his Pompeian patio, and 
the most charming effects obtained 
from garden furniture are usually 
the least noticeable and seem to 
have grown spontaneously with 
the flowers and shrubs. 
A collection of flower beds and 
walks should be made into a “com- 
position,” that is its centre of in- 
terest may well be marked by a 
simple fountain, if water is avail- 
able, for the sound and glitter of 
a jet, and the reflection of a pool 
enhance their surroundings. A 
simple basin may be made from 
concrete and decorated by the in- 
sertion of colored tiles which should 
be of one tint and without hard 
and sharp edges. The surface of 
the cement should be carefully con- 
sidered, both for texture, which 
may vary from rough and lumpy 
“ spatter work ” to a smooth sanded 
finish, and for color; many attrac- 
tive clear, soft, shades are specially 
manufactured for this material and can be 
obtained in powdered form ready for mixing. 
Whether the fountain is home made or 
constructed by some artificial stone 
moulder, its composition may include 
marble dust or other “aggregate” to ob- 
tain the effect of marble, granite or lime- 
stone. Ordinary tile brick can often be used 
effectively for an inlaid pattern in fountain 
or well-head construction. In fact brick can 
often be used very effectively in the garden. 
Making use of an old stone capital for a bird bath. Its hollowed basin is filled 
to give about 1| inches of water. Planted with German iris, Japan iris and cardi- 
nal flower. Reproductions of old capitals are to be had 
If a supply of running water is out of the 
question, the bird bath may be considered; 
that is a shallow bowl filled by hand, when 
the rainfall is not sufficient. Such features 
to be popular with the birds should not 
have the exposed situation that a larger 
fountain would adorn, for the winged 
visitors want privacy and protection if 
they are to feel really at home. An im- 
portant practical detail to remember, is that 
the inside surface of the bath must not be 
slippery, but sufficiently rough to afford a 
good footing and it is preferable that there 
be varying depths. Individual shallow 
saucer-like bird baths are easily purchased 
and are made in a variety of really attrac- 
tive designs of a simple nature so that they 
are ornamental and interesting of them- 
selves. An old stone capital taken 
from a column hollowed out and 
partially filled with pebbles to form 
a bath can be used- — filling is essen- 
tial as the water must not be deep. 
Copies of old capitals may be 
obtained from many dealers in cast 
stone and neatly placed among 
semi-aquatic plants, for example, 
iris, make a definite picture in- the 
garden scheme. 
A large jar may well replace the 
fountain as the “focal point” 
among the flower beds, and build 
up the composition by having 
plants growing in it. Some years 
ago half glazed oil jars from Italy 
could be easily obtained, but now 
the supply is limited, and the aver- 
age amateur landscapist must rely 
on the dealers in terra cotta and 
cement for such wares. Some of 
the articles now offered by dealers 
— stock forms in burnt clay — have 
real merit of a freehand quality not 
often found in America. They 
may be had in unglazed red or in 
a variety of soft glazed tints. 
In a formal garden the more his- 
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