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LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1902.
BACK YARD MADE INTO BOWER
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VIEW OP ALBERT W ATKINS' PREMISES.
This is a picture of the possibilities
Of floriculture in Nebraska and of a
striking treatment of the rear portion
of a lawn. The artist pronounces it the
most effective display of flowers, if not the
handsomest lawn, in this respect at least,
in Lincoln the past season. Next to the
gorgeousness of the flowers was the
striking perspective. The front lawn was
only lightly treated, and its compara
tive openness contributed greatly to the
effect of the rear arrangement and to
the general effect. A great -and common
fault is to overload the front lawn. The
'bed of cannas is thirty feet long; a
greater length is out of balance in a
lawn of 150 feet in depth. The border
is of scarlet zinnias. These are, of
course, for close inspection and this year
they grew unusually rank, but in their
rear position, from the street or the
side-walk they gave the bed a remark
ably handsome and probably not over
done appearance, and- were the object"
of admiration and pleasure to the passers-by
during the season. The cannas
were eight feet high and of symmetrical
growth. Other varieties, which do not
grow so large, have handsomer individ
ual blooms, perhaps; but Albert Wat
kins, the author and finisher of the lawn
here pictured, thinks that for decorative
purposes the kinds here shown may be
superior to the later developed and
shorter varieties. This canna bed has
been reproduced some seven or eight
years, always with success, and the se
cret of success Is very rich soil and
plenty of water. A mulching of partially
rotted stable manure contributes to the
richness of the soil but its greatest
value Is to conserve the moisture. As a
rule a canna bed should be kept well
toward the rear of the lawn. The smaller
oval bed was an experiment in mixed
zinnias. They are very showy and hold
a perfect form from June to July, but
for anything but long distance use they
are too obtrusive. The children's tepee
in the rear Is of vines the Virginia
creeper, until morning-glories envelop
them later In the season. They were-
gorgeously beautiful in the mornings.
On the left were sweet peas, -which also
grew eight feet high and gave blossoms
of corresponding size and beauty all
through the season. A great variety of
old-fashioned perennial flowers and vines
fill in and complete the details of the
whole charming picture. This heavy
treatment in the rear of the lawn is bal
anced by less obtrusive shrubs and flow
ers near the house and climbing upon it.
The heavy glossy Virginia creeper, dis
tinct from the vine of the same name
and species found native here, envelops
part of the house. At the front wistaria
climbs to the eaves and the purple and
white clematis appear in their season.
These, with climbing roses, honeysuckle,
and the winter honeysuckle, still per
fectly green, keep up a perennial orna
mentation along the east and front sides
of the house. Crocuses, tulips, hya
cinths, gladioli, lilies and dahlias make
a complete rotation of flowers through
out the season. The white clematis was
a mass of beauty in October, after every
thing else had faded.
These details are mentioned merely to
show the large range of beauty-makers
which are available in our climate. But
they will not Just grow as Topsy did.
They respond only to the tender, sympa
thetic care of master or mistress of the
household.
ESTABLISHED IN 1886
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