iciarmt 
a me Iboro: 
A lady friend liad baskets filled with it, and trailing 
and climbing over the top and up the cords was a yellow 
leafless twining vine, with floating tendrils; going nearer, 
I found it to he a variety of the common Dodder (Cus- 
cula). She said, u I did not notice it when I filled the 
baskets; then it grew so fast and was so pretty, I 
let it alone;” and pretty it was, and graceful and odd. 
deception, hut no one was the wiser from the street, and 
they did look beautiful. One summer I had Chick- 
weed (I am great for trying new things), and it ran 
and raced over everything, and was not ugly until it 
died. Gr. C. 
GARDEN DECORATIONS. 
Upon this page are figured two very pretty and use¬ 
ful structures for decorating the lawn and garden. 
Fig. 1 is a little summer-house for the garden, or 
among the shrubbery of the ornamental grounds, 
which has become covered with a perfect luxuriant 
mass of climbing vines. It is constructed of wood, 
very tastefully cut, and joined in fancy open-work 
figures, and its interior is apparently formed of various 
colored woods joined together, and varnished, forming 
a pleasing variety of native inlaid work. A table of 
same construction stands in the centre, which is used 
for reading, or games. The ornamental shrub at the 
left hand may be either the Spiraea or 
the Weigela, while on the right hand is ^ 
jus clump of Hollyhocks. 
2 is suitable either as a garden 
or better, to be placed in the 
centre or side of a lawn path wherever ||| 
there is a pretty Hew of scenery in the T 
distance. Looking through the oval 
opening, the vista seems more distinct, 
and being less in extent, its beauty is ||k| 
enhanced. Short trellises are placed 
close to the ends of this frame upon 
which are growing climbing vines. 
The structure is made entirely of 
wood. 
“ If our readers knew how easily the White Water 
Lily (Nymphia Odorata) could he cultivated, we be¬ 
lieve that very many of them would be quite as proud 
of their lily gardens as of any other portion of their 
premises. The roots having been procured in the fall 
were kept damp during the ensuing winter, in flower 
pots. In the spring a tub was made by sawing a 
substantial barrel in two, and this, duly painted green, 
was set on brick, put in the garden, and one-third 
„ filled with 
a mixture of garden soil, 
sand and well-rotted manure. The 
roots were set in this mixture, 
water was added in small quantities, 
and at intervals of a day or two, and 
so gently as not to disturb the earth, 
until the tub w r as filled. Very soon 
the handsome round leaves, four or 
five inches in diameter, made their ap¬ 
pearance and filled the tub. The loss 
o; water by evaporation was made 
good from time to time, and ere long 
the blossoms 
screen, 
Fig. 1. GrAiiDEN Summer-House. 
It is a parasite, living on the juices and strength of 
other plants, as every one knows who has seen it; but 
it is a novelty for baskets, I assure you, if it can be 
grown. Love Vine it is called here, no doubt on ac¬ 
count of its clinging propensities. I brought pieces of 
it borne, throwing it over my baskets; one took root (on 
another plant), but as it was late iu the fall it made 
very little growth, and died through the winter. Last 
appeared and delighted 
every one with their beauty. 
When cold weather approached, the 
water was allowed to dry off almost entirely, and when 
it was thus nearly gone, the tub, with its contents, was 
placed in the cellar, and watered at long intervals 
through the winter. In the spring the roots were sep¬ 
arated, and about half the increase returned to the 
same tub, in a fresh mixture of earth, and they are 
now brought out earlier than before, about April 1st. 
and blossom yet more profusely. The pure white 
flowers were as perfect as the 
1 Camelia, and delightfully fra¬ 
grant, closing in the night and 
re-opening in the morning, as is 
S’ 'N the wont of Water Lilies. The 
j a I blooms were about two inches 
in diameter, not quite so large as 
’ ^ some of the specimens in the 
Qgjrr!]/? f pond whence these roots were 
j|g|first taken, hut not less beautiful 
J, nor less fragrant .”—Flower Gar- 
s T den. 
i, ornamented at the top with 
curved wire rods and hells, like the Chinese garden 
house, or temple. The climbing vines most suitable 
for planting here are Aristolochia, Trumpet Creeper, 
and Morning Glory. Best annual flower to plant at 
base in front is the Salvia Splendens. 
titui, commonly called Porcelain 
Plant (it does look like porcelain, 
with its rich shaded purple flow¬ 
ers); “will bloom in profusion, 
if allowed heat enough;” that 
comes so readily that I think I 
must have read it somewhere; 
hut I have grown it myself, and 
I know that it likes shade like¬ 
wise. 
For stone or terra-cotta bas¬ 
kets, nothing can he prettier 
than the Frost Plant (Mesembryanthemum CrystaHi- 
num), and Linaria Cymbalaria, or Toad Flax, with its 
drooping, delicate foliage. One of either of these 
plants are sufficient for a basket, if cultivated 
Sweet Alyssum is excellent, 
both yellow and white. This 
spring I found several plants 
self-sown in the flower pots. I 
have a rounds centre mound, 
bordered with good-sized stones, 
clinkers, and shells; planted 
Sweet Alyssum around it, mix- 
with Rock Ivy, Dew Plant, 
Mesembryanthemum Tricolor, 
(oil, what a name,) and Money¬ 
wort (Lysimachia Numularia), it makes a very 
pretty edging, trailing down and covering the stones, 
and has been constantly in bloom. Stonecrop (Sedum) 
is good, and perfectly hardy. Phacelias, both colors, 
and a small, bushy variety of White Candytuft, will 
bloom all summer. G. C. 
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