Book of Gardens 
39 
THE GARDEN POSSIBILITIES of a CITY BACK YARD 
Exploding the Theory that Pleasant Vistas and a Wealth of Bloom Are Restricted to 
the Broader Areas of Country Gardens—A Definite Planting Plan 
T HE city back yard is by no means the 
hopeless, dreary horticultural desert that 
one is led by pessimistic forecasts to believe. 
Whatever hopelessness enshrouds it is usually 
evolved from the attitude of mind of the owner 
or occupant of the particular back yard under 
consideration. If one takes the stand that the 
position is untenable and that nothing can be 
done, the probability is that nothing will be 
done; but if on the contrary there is a deter¬ 
mined effort to “start something” then some¬ 
thing is going to happen, and that something 
will doubtless bear results. 
A city back yard is just so much land, just 
as an equal piece of land elsewhere is but a 
piece of land. The thing to do is to go to work 
and see what can be done with it. To be sure, 
the land is apt to be hard from lack of tilling, 
and is probably lacking in fertility; but both 
these objections can be overcome by thorough 
digging in the one case and the application of 
fertilizers—preferably well rotted barnyard 
manure—in the other. 
Just what is to be undertaken in reclaiming 
a neglected back yard will depend entirely upon 
the tenure of occupancy. If the residence is a 
permanent home, then the yard may be laid out 
into walks, a bit of lawn, flower borders and 
shrubbery; for even a two-by-four-rod lot will 
afford room for a generous planting and such 
garden accessories as one may desire. But if 
the home is merely temporary, then not much 
in the way of permanent improvements will be 
undertaken; yet the yard may be made charm¬ 
ing by the use of bedding plants, annual flowers 
and vines sensibly arranged. 
The first thing to undertake will be a thor¬ 
ough cleaning up of the ground, removing 
everything that is not actually necessary and 
making the ground as smooth and presentable 
as possible. The next thing in order will be 
hiding the division fences and any outbuild¬ 
ings that exist with vines or tall growing an¬ 
nuals. Narrow beds dug along the fences on 
either side may be planted with vines 'of quick 
growth, and such summer bedding plants and 
tall annuals as cannas, cosmos, ricinus, and the 
like may be used to mask the rear fence. These 
are all plants which may be started in the house 
from roots and seeds and planted out when the 
weather is suitable. 
Usually it is preferable to leave the center 
of the lot open, seeding down the ground to 
grass for a bit of lawn; but this is hardly prac¬ 
ticable in the temporary home. As a bare ex¬ 
panse of earth is anything but attractive, it will 
be better to put this part of the lot into flower 
beds, using low growing annuals or bedding 
plants and leaving broad walks around this 
miniature garden. This with the border be¬ 
neath the fences will cover the lot so that only 
the paths remain, and if these can be covered 
with sand or gravel or even sifted coal ashes 
the result will be entirely satisfactory. 
An even better arrangement than the vines 
growing up the fences would be the erection of 
boxes on top of the fences filled with trailing 
vines, such as nasturtiums or other gay-flower¬ 
ing vines. The boxes may contain upright 
plants as well—just the sort of planting that 
one makes in porch or window boxes, only on 
a somewhat larger scale. The expense for this 
sort of work need not be great, as rough wooden 
boxes will answer quite as well as more costly 
ones. The long boxes in which curtain poles 
are sometimes shipped are just the right thing 
and can be purchased for about twenty-five 
cents each at the dry goods or furniture stores. 
They need only filling with good soil to be 
ready for the reception of such plants as one 
may elect to use. If the fence has a flat board 
on top, the boxes may be set directly on it, but 
if no top rail is present the boxes are easily 
adjusted by means of wooden brackets attached 
to the fence posts. 
Where the boxes are adopted instead of 
planting vines at the foot of the fence, then 
scarlet salvia, white feverfew, camphor gerani¬ 
ums, nicotiana, asters, stocks and the like may 
lift their bright heads from the ground to meet 
the down trailing vines. Petunias, verbenas, 
sweet alyssum and ageratum may be used as an. 
edging, and the whole will furnish a wealth of 
bloom from early summer to frost. 
Taller growing annuals may be banked about 
the base of the house and the rear entrance 
steps. Erect a trellis of wire above the entrance 
and cover this with Japanese morning glories, 
Cobxa scandens, passion vines and similar free 
blooming vines. On top of the balustrade and 
in all the rear windows place boxes of bright 
flowers. If a continuous succession of boxes 
along the entire fence seems too great an under¬ 
taking, they may be separated by a few feet 
and the spaces between filled with some not 
too rank growing vine planted beneath the 
fence; or a tall growing plant may be utilized 
to fill the opening and relieve the monotony of 
a too level planting beneath. Then if one is 
faithful with the watering hose, zealous in 
training the growth of vines and plants, and 
will gather flowers before they fade and keep 
the plants free from insect pests, there will be 
no call to despise the city back yard. 
I he permanent back yard, however, should 
have as its chief charm a stretch of velvety 
green sod, well trimmed and shayed, and the 
flowers should be merely the framework and 
adornment of its beauty. A broad cement or 
graveled path, or one with stepping stones down 
its center, broadening midway of its length into 
a circle enclosing an artificial pool for lilies 
and goldfish and with garden seats at each side, 
may be the chief feature of this part of the 
yard. Mass planting of tall growing peren¬ 
nials and shrubs may serve as a screen for an 
enclosing fence or undesirable view. Taller 
shrubs and ornamental trees may close the vista 
in the rear, and a little tea house or pergola 
makes a shady retreat at the end of the path. 
Stepping stones give a quaint and old-time 
flavor to a garden, but they must be set low 
enough to allow the lawn mower to pass freely 
over them. Walks of red brick, especially 
where the enclosing walls are of brick, are 
charming. Seats of red cement may be used 
with them, or wooden ones painted green. 
(/4) Summerhouse or pergola; ( B ) lily or lotus pool; (C) 
seats with lattice backs and hoods; (D) tall shrubs; (E) 
ornamental trees; (F ) low shrubs or tall perennials; (G) 
vines; (H) low perennials, annuals or bedding plants; (K) 
sun dial; ( M ) stepping stones 
