Garden Entrances 
By MARY H. NORTHEND 
OW MANY people think of preparing a suit- 
able entrance for their garden! Yet the visit- 
or’s first impression is often the one which 
proves most abiding, and even the owner, 
who knows each nook and corner so well, will 
find his pleasure enhanced, if he approaches his garden 
through an attractive vista. 
This fact is well worthy to 
claim the attention of the 
garden lover, but for some 
reason the point is frequent- 
ly overlooked. The garden 
is a jewel, a beautiful flaw- 
less gem, that requires a 
suitable setting. Nothing 
else can give its beauty the 
same crowning touch to be 
found in appropriate sur- 
roundings. 
The careful preparation 
of an entrance is a scheme 
which can be carried out in 
even a small garden plot, 
but of course the treatment 
must be varied to suit the 
individual case, and the 
same method would not be 
suitable for both an Itahan 
garden and a Grandmother’s 
posy-bed. Much depends, 
too, upon environment, and 
whether the garden lies in 
the midst of open lawns or 
erowding brick blocks. 
A successful garden en- 
{ance gives glimpses of fas- 
cinating pictures in brilliant 
colors, impelling us strongly 
to enter and explore the 
eharms within. Even the 
simplest floral display gains 
added charms if it can be 
approached through portals which, while in themselves 
attractive, also suggest further beauties beyond, lying 
half revealed. The harmonious setting leads us into 
flower land through a pleasing vista, whose charms are 
half individual and half sympathetic. 
For this reason, the arch or geteway is often an ideal 
entrance. Easily made, it lends itself to simple adorn- 
ment, with a facile grace. A simple trellis-work will 
support rambler roses, wistaria, or the rapid growth of 
Virginia creepers. 
Instead of a wooden trellis, wire netting may be 
used, by fitting it out with strong supports, to uphold 
the weight of the climbing vines. 
Ordinary iron gas-pipe is excellent for this purpose, 
being very strong, easily bent into the arched form, 
and at the same time sure to keep the given shape and 
position. 
Sometimes the arch theme is expanded into a little 
rustic summer house, often fitted with a rustic gate at 
each end, and with rustic seats upon each side, the en- 
Entrance to Garden at the Gardiner M. Lane Estate, Manchester 
trance to the garden being between the seats and through 
the gateway at each end. This structure is of course 
beautified with climbing vines and often with shrubbery 
or a biennial border. 
Where the garden is enclosed with a hedge, -the 
little wicket gate with its arch above is wholly charm- 
ing. There is a privacy combined with simplicity about 
this arrangement which 
promises much for the en- 
joyment of the enclosure. 
Where the walls are neces- 
sarily of brick or stone, or- 
namental gateposts to which 
gates may or may not be 
hung, add much to the beau- 
ty of the entrance. These 
posts may be of brickwork, 
of granite blocks, of stucco, 
or of cobblestones. It is a 
pretty scheme to leave the 
top hollow, so that it may 
be filled with earth, and 
planted with bright flowers 
and trailing vines. 
garden entrance must con- 
form in their appearance to 
the house and grounds. The 
entrance to a formal garden 
may well be a stately flight 
of stone steps, with broad 
low treads, flanked by digni- 
fied evergreens, trimmed in- 
to formal shapes. There is 
something fascinating about 
gaining glimpses, step by 
step, of the beauties just 
ahead, but. not yet wholly 
revealed. A formal garden 
gains much by this touch of 
distinction, and it matters 
not whether it may bea 
sunken garden, or one located upon a terrace height, 
above the level of the other home grounds. Inequality 
of surface is the only requirement which renders the 
use of the stairway appropriate. 
Where inequalities of surface are treated with an 
eye to landscape effect, a rustic bridge makes a very 
pretty garden entrance. It is not necessary that it 
should be built over water, although thisgcan often be 
contrived in connection with a lily pord or larger 
water garden. It can be constructed across a shallow 
dry ravine, and draped in climbing roses and luxuriant 
vines. 
The wood of the locust and cedar will be .found 
most durable for such constructions, and the foundation 
posts of bridges and arbors must be carefully set upon 
a stone bedding, well below the frost line. <A little eare 
at the outset will save much disappointment latter on. 
All rustic work has the bad fault of showing repairs 
when new wood is put in place of that which has erum- 
bled, but if the structure has been properly covered with 
The size and style of the 
Ve a 7 
