January, 1915 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
19 
rhododendrons. It is interesting that these rhododendrons 
which did poorly in their original position on the south side of 
the house flourish on the north side. They dislike excessive sun¬ 
light, but enjoy the more even temperature of the shade. Now 
they withstand every winter 
without any protection except 
a mulch around the roots. 
They look particularly well in 
contrast to all the neighbor¬ 
ing rhododendron beds, which 
are tied up in their coverings 
of evergreen boughs at the 
first approach of cold weather. 
Leucothce, p a c h y s a n d r a, 
ferns, ivy and yellow root 
make a foreground planting 
for the rhododendrons. Along 
the wall of the service court 
fragrant sumac and asters are 
planted, and Ampelopsis en- 
gelmanni, which has clinging 
suckers like the Boston ivy 
and a free-growing habit like 
A 
clings 
the Virginia creeper, 
over wall and posts. 
All the plants on- the drive endure northern exposures and 
shady positions. It is a planting composed mainly of evergreens. 
To the exclusion of all stiff specimen conifers, broad-leaved va¬ 
rieties have been used. The decorative effectiveness of evergreen 
planting depends as much on the nicety with which the different 
varieties are combined as on the selection of the material. It is a 
planting chosen principally for its fine foliage effects. The last¬ 
ing green of myrtle and ivy, hemlock, euonymus and pachysandra, 
the almost evergreen foliage of the fragrant honeysuckles, and 
the glossy leafage of the rhododendrons give a splendid winter 
effect. Against these are contrasted the leucothoe, when its fo¬ 
liage turns a deep red in the autumn, and the brilliant fall color 
of tbe yellow root and fragrant sumac. 
From tbe drive we can pass to the lawn, a little place, quite 
private and secluded, six feet above the sidewalk. The wall around 
it has done away with the 
original steep grass slope, 
which was never good to look 
at and very difficult to keep 
in order. By the building of 
this retaining wall several 
feet were added to the width 
of the lawn, a desirable 
economy of floor space for a 
small piece of ground. 
The shrubbery planted 
along the front wall is not 
put in a continuous border. 
With economy of space in 
mind and with a feeling for 
a rather delicate effect, the 
familiar Van Iioutte spi¬ 
raeas, Regel's privets and hem¬ 
locks are planted in groups 
at intervals, allowing the wall 
to show between. Kegel's privet and hemlock have a sweeping- 
habit of branching, very desirable in the shrubbery for lawn en¬ 
closures. They provide a winter contrast of black berries against 
evergreen boughs. There are Japanese quinces planted near the 
house for early spring bloom and Rosa multiflora climbing over 
the wall has bright hips for autumn effect. 
From the lawn we can enter the flower garden. It is quite a 
marvelous little place. In considering all that has been done in 
terrace with walls ivy-grown, the panels relieved by a fountain flanked 
Robbia casts—a good background and a factor for winter effects 
it, it is really worth while noticing that its size is only 35 by 45 
feet. Its slightly raised position above the front lawn and its 
sunken position in relation to the terrace give it the change of 
level to which so many gardens owe a great part of their charm. 
The drive was made as practical as possible. It runs parallel to the house, turning abruptly, with two short curves to the entrance gates. An old beech dominates 
this section, and all the plants have been chosen to endure a northern exposure, broad-leaf conifers showing well when the rhododendrons are in winter covering 
