March, 1920 
HG 45 
M Y 
BACKYARD 
GARDEN 
The Results Which Have Been Attained on a Fifty-foot Lot J'Vhere Small Space 
Failed to Discourage Abundant Planting 
W. P. FRANKLIN 
ttT TAVING fun?” says a neighbor jok- 
‘H 
_ingly over the fence, when I am on 
my hands and knees w^eeding in the hot sun, 
or performing the rather strenuous operation 
of trenching a strip for some of my particular 
flower pets. 
“Yes,” is the reply, “ ‘Having fun’ is right!” 
I doubt very much if the neighbor believes this, 
but nevertheless it is the truth. I am really 
having fun, and not working as she supposed. 
To many, no doubt, these little duties are 
the worst of tasks, but to me gardening is 
play, enjoyable and lovable all the way through, 
and many pleasant hours are passed with the 
hoe, fork and wheelbarrow. The watering 
pot, although heavy when filled, is easily car¬ 
ried, and whenever there are thirsty plants it 
willingly goes forth. After a rain the hoe 
presents itself and using it becomes interesting. 
One feels on time and accomplishing much 
as it cuts through the mellow soil. '\Miat is 
work, anyway? Is it not often merely the 
point of view one takes? 
. How restful, refreshing and satisfying is a 
garden, and how wonderful are its occupants, 
performing miracles, before our very eyes! 
One must be stone indeed who is not enchanted 
by its spell. A flower is something more than 
just a flower; there is something great and 
noble about it, something we feel but find it 
difficult to express. 
Supplying the simple 
needs of a garden be¬ 
comes a rare privilege 
wliich carries its own re- 
w’ard. 
The Flower Space 
My lot is 50' by 175', 
and more than half of 
it is occupied by the 
house and garage. Flow¬ 
ers of the following kinds 
and numbers claim the 
remainder: 275 iris, 
150 rose bushes, 25 ram¬ 
blers, 150 delphiniums, 
200 phlox, 50 chrysan¬ 
themums, 25 pyrethrums. 
Through one 
of the rose 
arches yon 
look down 
the ma in 
path, bor¬ 
dered with 
mixed peren¬ 
nials, to the 
rear garden 
500 gladioli, 30 dahlias, and small oiiantities 
of trollius, hardy asters, linum, lupines, orien- 
tal poppies, lilies, etc. 
The garden is entirely fenced and trellised, 
even to a gate which closes the driveway, afford¬ 
ing protection from neighboring dogs, con¬ 
fining my own Scottish terrier wlien necessary, 
and aljove all giving a large measure of priv¬ 
acy. Grape vines cover the best of one side, 
rambler roses the other. Lombardy poplars 
and shrubs occupy the rear and with the 
house, shrubs, vines and gate closing in the 
front, make the seclusion complete. 
Seclusion and Birds 
Someone has said that seclusion and flowers 
make the ideal garden, and to my mind one 
is as essential as the other, especially in built- 
up sections. I should include birds also, al¬ 
though the lives of mine are much endangered 
and many sacrificed by a neighbor’s cat, whose 
favorite rendezvous is the foot of the bird- 
bath, where he awaits their coming to drink 
and springs upon them unawares. I am try¬ 
ing to devise some means of protecting them. 
Many seem aware of the danger and will fore¬ 
go being refreshed rather than take any chances 
with Tom, flying to within a foot of the bath, 
hovering over it a few seconds and then flying 
away. The bath is elevated 4' on the stump 
of a large cherry tree to 
which evonymus clings 
effectively. Around this 
natural pedestal are 
white Japanese iris, their 
foliage being particular¬ 
ly adapted to this situa¬ 
tion. 
Of course there is a 
sundial, with its sugges¬ 
tion of love and romance, 
reminding one of the 
olden days as it silently 
marks the sunny hours. 
It is situated just beyond 
a rose covered arch, 
where the main path di¬ 
vides, forming a triangle 
{Continued on page 62) 
The bird bath 
is set on an 
old cherry 
stump some 
4' h i g h , 
around which 
cluster the 
large blooms 
of white 
Japanese Iris 
Cobaea climbs over 
the workroom door- 
w a y and on the 
trellis while ramblers 
and honeysuckles are 
being developed 
In May the iris path 
is all but blocked 
by the wonderful 
blooms and grace¬ 
ful, sword-like fol¬ 
iage of the plants 
The garden is entirely fenced in and 
trellised, assuring privacy. Grape 
vines cover most of one side, and 
rambler roses the other. More than 
half of the property, which is SO' by 
I/S', is occupied by house and garage 
