U 
May, 1915 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
345 
abreast with it. Once inside, more shrubbery, the curve of the 
brick walk and the tangle of thorn trees which arch over it to 
hide the front door. Carmine Pillar roses and Clematis panicn- 
lata on the gate arch, the rhododendrons along the house wall, the 
laurel around the front porch, the thorns along the walk and the 
apple tree near the hedge, the Forsythia, the old-fashioned mock 
orange, the golden chain which has such wonderful wistaria-like 
pendants of yellow flowers, the Aralia and sumac, grouped in a 
heavy mass along the side, all these combine in giving continuous 
interest and color to the entrance walk and emphasizing the in¬ 
formal character of the house. 
Inside the gate is revealed the hominess of the entrance with the vines 
climbing up the stone chimney and the laurels blooming at either side 
expanse of lawn. It is an unwritten law in Landscape Archi¬ 
tecture to put no disturbing element in the line with the vista, to 
exclude and screen away anything undesirable in the view, and 
to create a heavy frame for the view. The same trees and 
shrubbery that here bound the lawn space hide barn buildings on 
neighboring properties and make a frame for the view. 
For the surroundings of most lawns the boundaries should be 
as high and heavy and impregnable as tall trees and shrubberv 
can make them. ITere the enclosure on the sides is high, but on 
the lower end of the lawn along the water the bounding shrubbery 
is purposely low, in order to keep open the view. 
Tree and shrub enclosures are absolute essentials to develop greensward 
into lawns. What they add to the lawn space, to the privacy of the 
grounds and to the play of light and shade on the grass is not generally 
appreciated or understood by owners of small properties. 
This property is only 150 by 200 feet in area. For a complete and in¬ 
tensive use of a piece of ground — even of this size — more than the creation 
of a lawn is necessary. That it is worthy and capable of great variety in 
effects is shown in the development of this property. 
A terrace is the means of transition between the house and lawn. The 
slope was cpiite steep, the terrace making a comfortable means of approach 
from the porch steps to the lawn. 
Terraces are capable of many forms, shapes and characters. They can 
be made spacious, dignified, ornate and formal to harmonize with the most 
elaborate house; they can be as small, simple and informal as any suburban 
house may require. The small, oblong grass plot is surrounded by narrow 
brick paths, which in their turn are bounded by unclipped barberry hedg¬ 
ing. This is the simplest form a terrace can take. 
It is particularly fortunate in winter to have such a sunny spot close to 
the house. The brick paths make it dry to walk on. and the red barberry 
berries lend a cheerfulness. 
In the first plan for the terrace the grass plot was divided into three 
panels, a pool in the center with flowers on either side. This idea illus¬ 
trates how even such a small space can throb with interest, be full of color 
and be enlivened by reflections. 
Steps from the terrace lead down to narrow strips of ground on the east 
and west side of the lawn. 
The eastern side of the property was originally thought out as the ser¬ 
vice side of the garden, but it is so full of color and flowers that it hardly 
gives any suggestion of the original intention. 
Service paths on small properties are 
especially difficult problems to deal with. 
The monotony felt in many suburban 
streets where two straight paths cut up 
each lot front and form tiresome ribbons 
of paving along the whole street is ap¬ 
palling. Any ingenuity and originality 
expressed in the solving of this problem is 
always welcome. Here it seems most 
naturally done. The little branch path 
curving off the main path is very simple. 
Almost hidden by the outstretching 
branches of the shrubbery borders, it 
turns off the main path at just the point 
where it is least noticeable and, with its 
own curve in the direction of the kitchen 
entrance and drying yard, it soon fades 
entirely from view. It has the essential 
demand of the service paths, as well as all 
service parts of the grounds: that they be 
screened and hidden away from all the 
cither parts. 
Once inside the house, the hall leads di¬ 
rectly to the living porch. From there is 
the best view of the inlet and the whole 
This is the view of the Sound from the house shown opposite. A deliberate attempt has been made to obscure 
or remove the objectionable and give the view a fitting frame 
