Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/157

 ^37 THE OARDCN E0 charming roses, noney suckles, jasmines, and other creepers climb, and cast a light shade, without excluding the fresh country air. Here the reader's attention may be drawn to many differences there are in wooden trellis- work. All so-called " rustic " work is to be avoided, as it gives a suburban appearance. The fox-coloured, red-brown varnish that one so often sees upon woodwork is an un- becoming background to pink roses. It is best either to have all woodwork creosoted — which preserves it from the weather, or to paint it with three coats of a colour in harmony with the house, and also one that forms a pleasing background to flowers. If old pictures of gardens are studied, it will be found that at Versailles and in the formal gardens at Schwetzingen only the square-mesh trellis was used. We gain rest to the eye, for all the lines correspond to those of the upright posts that support the roof. A trellis with lines running so as to form a lozenge-shaped lattice is not re- poseful, g P This light trellis roof is supported upon stout, square uprights of wood, and here again it should be noted that square wooden posts are more in character with a house than round fir poles. The height and general proportions of the court will be decided only when the house itself is taken into consideration, for this roofed-in trellis loggia must be strictly in keeping with the adjacent building. It should appear to be a portion of it, and, if necessary, a four-foot- high wall of the same coloured stone or brick as the house can surround it, and the upright posts may rise upon this to the roof. A small projecting ledge of tiles, slate, or bricks cemented over, would be a neat finish to the wall and would be serviceable for holding books, writing materials, or work, and here and there a little pot of thyme or basil would recall old ItaUan gardens. Green-faced potteryware dishes, or other quaint jars from France or Spain would be nice planted with pink carnations or yellow pansies. Any little touches of bright colour give the pleasing look of home, for we want the loggia to be an additional out-of-door room to our house. Should some of the sitting-room windows look into it, pleasant little surprises may be produced by planting a variety of flowering creepers upon the upright posts. Do not select only those that flower in summer — have winter jasmine as well as the white summer one ; winter-sweet and ever- green honeysuckle, Kerria japonica and passion flower for spring and summer. J—D-L PLAN OF THE PAVED COURT A A. Covered end. BB. Walls, C. House wall. Entrance from house. E. Supports. each has its representative. By this means the loggia will never be dull, and there will always be a bright piece of colour to attract the eye. Then, too, arrange, if necessary, to have little openings, circular or oval, in the trellis that forms the sides, above the four-foot wall. Perhaps a distant vista of garden walk or border can be seen framed in this way ; care must be taken not to exf)ose too much upon the sunny south side ; only give sufficient air and' light for plants to thrive, and not too much to allow of glare or heat. The floor of this arbour will be a garden, too, for it is not necessary to have the paving joined together like a road- pavement. If old, disused York slab is to be had, so arrange it that there are small chinks and holes between each stone. Fill these with good soil, and plant bright- faced pansies, blue and mauve aubrietia, white arabis, blue forget-me-nots, London pride, sedums and saxifrages, and any little plants, in short, that friends will send. It is advisable to keep a large space in the centre somewhat free from plants, and this should be evenly paved, so that a table foi meals and chairs can stand ready for use at any time. The surrounding corners of the loggia, which are not necessarily required in this way, may have flower-beds one or two feet wide, and these may be planted irregularly with a succes- sion of sweet-smeUing flowers. A group of madonna HHes will look lovely in one corner of it, perhaps a carpet of poly- anthus near by, some tall yellow evening primroses, a few tobacco plants, and many other favourites will find a happy home Provided no large trees overshadow or rob the good soil with their distant roots, these plants will revel in the semi-shade and protection given by the loggia. In Sussex there is a picturesque paved garden which might be copied and improved upon. It belongs to some quaint old alms- houses, and for many years the old people had tended favourite flowers in it, and each had a plot set apart for sowing annuals. Originally all were arranged in orderly httle squares and oblongs, and round these was an ordinary earth path. Here flourished sunflowers, love-in-a-mist, eschscholtzia, mignonette, sweet-peas. When, exactly, the change took place is not known, but with the demohtion of an ancient building near by, the governors became possessed of innumerable pieces of Horsham slab, which had previously been used as roofing tiles; these were laid all over the r~D— L Arrange it so that winter, spring, and autumn almshouse garden, regardless of much-loved