THE LANDSCAPE POSSIBILITIES OF A NORTH HILLSIDE—THE 
SERVICE OF ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT AND STONE WORK 
C ERTAINLY there is no 
site which offers wider 
opportunity for distinctive 
garden design than a hillside, 
and particularly one which 
slopes steeply. But when this 
condition is combined with 
the constricted limitations of 
a suburban lot, which pitches 
sharply downwards from 
south to north, thus giving 
virtually a northern exposure, 
it is obvious that besides the 
free use of terracing and 
steps, much of the charm of 
the garden must result from 
skillful design, and in making 
the most of such natural con¬ 
ditions as are present. 
This problem confronted us 
definitely in planning a gar¬ 
den for Mrs. Carolyn L. Lynch, at Morristown, New Jersey. 
I he lot measured only 115 feet frontage, and was nearly 500 
feet deep. Some idea of the difference in the various levels it 
presented may be had from the sectional drawing, which shows a 
drop of almost 100 feet from hilltop to street level. 
Originally, the house had been of no definite style, but bv suc¬ 
cessive and thoughtful alterations, during a period of ten years, 
it had gradually taken on the comfortable, homey look of many 
English country houses. I he sharply pitched roof, bare of dor¬ 
mers ; the casement windows, the plain white paint and dark- 
green trim, and its long, narrow shape, further suggested English 
tendencies. I was guidpd 
somewhat by this aspect of 
the house in designing an in¬ 
formal garden. 
But, as the section shows, 
the house was on a much 
lower level than the rest of the 
property, albeit it stood above 
the street some fifteen feet. It 
was impossible, therefore, 
without great expense in ex¬ 
cavating, to secure a garden 
next to or adjoining the house. 
Therefore, we were content 
to mask the brick superstruc¬ 
ture around tbe base of the 
porches, with a planting of 
coniferous evergreens of va¬ 
rious hues. Due to the fact 
that an avenue of big maples 
lined the roadway directly be¬ 
fore the house, very little sun penetrated here, and some broad¬ 
leaved evergreens and hardy azaleas were added to lighten the 
sombre greenery with their spring bloom. 
To the east, the fairly gentle slope of the hill was left in grass, 
and a border of shrubbery and perennials planted along the 
boundary line in irregular massing. A brick terrace, in double 
quarry pattern, with inserted medallions of Moravian tiles, was 
laid down directly behind the house. This space formed the dry¬ 
ing yard on washdays, and at other times was useful for outdoor 
dining and entertainment. A flight of rough stone steps was 
then constructed from this terrace to the garden level, and a dry 
by George C. D. Rogers 
The level plot below the hillside and above the house was treated simply in a formal 
manner, using, however, roses and herbaceous perennials. It adds interest to the 
difference in levels and commands a slope of lawn below it 
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