Making an out-of-door living room with shrubbery 
Shrubs 
The gem without its setting is still a gem—yet consider what it loses in effect. And a house 
or just a specimen tree or palm without flowering and ornamental shrubs is like that—a gem 
without setting—a picture without a frame. How many homes costing thousands of dollars 
stare obtrusively into the public eye—they have none of that atmosphere expressive of well- 
rounded personality and character. There they stand, piles of brick or stone or wood, without 
any serious effort to add that eloquent touch of simple dignity that well-ordered planting can 
give. Sometimes there are a few plants set out at random but no studied attempt at creating a 
real picture of the home. Of course, the trained landscape artist can secure better effects than can 
the person of inexperience—that would be expected. But a little good taste goes a long way 
when in conjunction with a real desire to accomplish something, and if the home owner will give 
a little thoughtful attention to the pages of this book very satisfactory results can be obtained. 
And always keep before you this primary objective—purpose. Don't have a few meaningless 
specimens, forlorn and lonely, everlastingly flaunting their charms before a sophisticated audience 
—but make them serve a purpose in securing picturesque effects. Don't consider the plants for 
themselves, but reflect on what way they can serve in building up a picture. 
While there are frequently points at which only a single specimen shrub will serve, as a 
rule it is better to lean toward mass planting. It will be wise to avoid setting out a few exotic 
pets around the lawn at random; remember that every time you break up your lawn with speci¬ 
men shrubs you are foreshortening your foreground; at times this is permissible, but be sure that 
this is the case before you do so. It is preferable and safer to pile up your shrubs in heavy bor¬ 
ders around the confines of your grounds to give them better definition and to soften the larger 
angles with whole “families" of shrubs as the size of the grounds permits. Where you want 
color—use it. Make great splashes if need be to get the effect toward which you are working. 
If you are limited to the number you can use, either reduce the area of your picture or increase the 
open area in the center—but use what you have to plant, in mass formation. Where you need 
background, build it as nature would, with lavish abandon, creating a truly natural effect. And 
don't forget your sky-line—remember that you are planning for years to come. 
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