284 
The Garden Magazine, June, 1924 
AN “ALADDIN’S PALACE” OF 
MODERN MAKE 
I he climate of many parts 
of the United States has al¬ 
most tropic summers, and our 
wealthier families are building 
themselves Aladdin’s palaces 
from southern California to 
Florida in order that summer 
may be gained all the year.” 
Mariada, the winter home of 
Mr. Leonard M. Thomas, 
overlooking the lake at Palm 
Beach 
I T IS not only those who are fortunate 
enough to live in the country or spend long 
summers there, that are becoming absorbed 
in the fascinating pastime of gardens, but 
those enforced city-dwellers, who above all 
people need the repose of green foliage and the 
sound of running water. 
In New York the unsightly backyards are 
FOUNTAINS THAT LEND GAIETY 
“In Oriental countries the garden was a place of se¬ 
clusion for family life, a cool and grateful refuge, and a 
pool or fountain was usually the center on which the 
whole plan and life of the garden pivoted.” This is 
becoming increasingly true here in our newer land and 
wherever there is a fountain there folk inevitably 
gravitate, drawn by its cool and refreshing suggestion. 
Two designs in glazed pottery by Jessie A. Stagg; wall 
fountain at right in green and brown, and that shown 
above in rich Persian blue 
as centers of some out-of-the-way nook, surrounded by a 
hedge, or concealed in shrubbery with the sky reflected in 
the water, the whole forming a charming and unexpected 
design. In these enclosed spaces the spray should be 
kept low; high only for vistas and large spaces. 
Pools also add greatly to the beauty and quiet peace of 
gardens. They serve two purposes; that of a mirror to 
reflect the sky and surrounding verdure, and for water 
plants and gold-fish. It is well not to over-plant them, as 
this interrupts the view which they may be the center of. 
There are many delightful native water plants and there is 
endless pleasure in collecting them to form water gardens, 
and they have the practical value of being 
hardy. The yellow “Cow-lily,” the familiar 
white, sweet smelling Water-lily, Pickerel- 
weed with its blue spikes, Arrowhead, and 
the brilliant solitary Cardinal-flower, Royal 
Fern, Marshmallow, Pitcher-plant and some 
of the Orchids, are among the commonest and 
all are sufficiently decorative to be worth 
cultivating. 
gradually being transformed 
into gardens, which for lack 
of good soil and pure ait- 
must depend largely on 
potted plants, sculpture, and 
fountains to give the magic 
of gardens. Either wall or 
free-standing fountains are 
easily installed, and are cer¬ 
tainly a welcome sight and 
sound to any tired and dusty 
person at the end of a day’s 
work. 
In planning water features 
for a garden one should not 
forget a bird-bath, another 
opportunity for a sculptor 
and one especially adapted 
to colored pottery. 
Once upon a time fountains 
were associated with the 
estates of the rich, and were 
thought of as monumental 
affairs, but in these days, 
when a public water supply 
is accessible to nearly every¬ 
one for a reasonable price, there is no reason 
why any garden in town or country should 
be without at least a jet of water falling 
into a basin, and the spiritual reward is 
wav beyond the material cost. Running 
water is full of magic to smooth out ruffled 
thoughts, and as a help to peace of mind is 
highly to be recommended. 
