188 
The Garden Magazine, December, 1920 
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A COURTYARD 
GARDEN 
Where Spanish influence 
reigns unperturbed over 
the modern handling of 
detail 
is similar, and therefore a harmonious background for the Span- 
ish type of garden, whatever its mood. The mountains always 
framing the distance make a particularly inspiring contrast for 
all the fragrant and colorful enchantments — Rose, Jasmine, 
Bougainvillea, and glowing Gold of Ophir Rose — found within 
the walled gardens of the “Sunset State.” 
THE PROBLEMS OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT 
WILBER D. COOK, JR. 
Pres. Pacific Coast Chapter Am. Soc. Landscape Architects 
ANY angles of approach offer themselves to me in 
writing on a subject so comprehensive, covering as it 
might the special treatment for California soils; the 
difficulties of making good lawns due to the shallow 
rooting of Blue-grass and the encroachment of Devil Grass; the 
problem presented by the long dry season which requires the 
installation of sprinkler systems and irrigation; the acquiring 
of accurate knowledge about the very extensive assortment of 
trees, shrubs, and flowers which can be grown in our climate; 
the efforts that are necessary to get nursery stock in quantity, 
size, and quality to carry out the planting scheme; and the labor 
situation. There is, besides, the problem — perhaps most im- 
portant of all — of convincing the public that expert knowledge 
in the scientific preparation of soil, in the attractive shaping 
of the ground, and in studying out a comprehensive, appropriate 
design, with intelligent selection and placing of the factors (such 
as drives, walks, lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, pools, wall, or 
garden furniture), is the only safe insurance against failure, and 
a real assurance toward getting a properly planned and wisely 
developed estate. 
But for the present I shall deal with the larger problem 
of landscape design and planting, because it is in this that the 
new home builders in California make their first, and often ir- 
reparable, mistakes. 
Visitors to California are so fascinated by the wealth of flowers 
that, when they become settlers, they are carried away with the 
opportunity of having bloom the year round. And, desirous 
of trying out all the many strange and beautiful plants they see 
and hear about, they frequently fail to realize that the funda- 
mental principles of good landscape design and planting are 
lost by a confused over-planting with its consequent lack of pro- 
per spacing. 
The rapid growth and great variety of easily cultivated plants, 
combined with the abundant free advice often given by nursery- 
man landscape architects in order to sell their stock, has led 
many enthusiastic California home builders to overlook the 
