File:American homes and gardens (1911) (18128519666).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar81911newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
Lily of the valley and violets with pine are good Roses and pine intermixed in a green basket one cannot fail to accomplish good results with only one kind of blossom, if it is supplied with plenty of green leaves as a supporting background. With a basket holder that is graceful in shape the eye is gratified not only by beauty of color, but beauty in line. In the illustrations the long-needle pine is the motive for some charming floral combinations. Pinks, tulips, lily of the valley, roses and apple blossoms are utilized, each giv- ing the color note in a quaint and unusual setting. The sim- plicity of this arrangement could hardly be exceeded, yet the artistic result is most convincing. The round-shaped baskets would, naturally, look best upon a round table, and the oblong basket be most suitable on a square or oblong table. A charming idea that is followed out each spring in a country home is to bring in from the woods a full-flowered plant of wild violets and fit it into an earthen casserole. As long as the blossoms are fresh, this decoration is kept on the dining table. Other wild flowers are transferred in the same way for the living-room and piazza—cowslips, or marsh marigold, columbine and azaleas. In arranging flowers for the dining table it is well to keep to rather low effects, or, if tall flowers are used, they should be grouped so they do not obscure the people who are to be seated. The latter is possible with carnations and stevia, or roses and maiden-hair fern. In a parlor or living-room the tall effects are often the most satisfactory, breaking up the formality of long spaces. During the summertime when the piazza becomes the chief sitting place for the household the flower arrange- ments may well extend to this space. The thrifty home- maker will be prepared with flower holders of more sub- stantial make than are in use inside the house, and whose possible breakage will not entail the expense of a finer ware. Large green jars to stand on the floor can be filled with wild daisies; big brass bowls may hold wild asters and golden rod; the blue-and-white ginger jars may also be utilized for roses and garden flowers. Hanging roses, for cut flowers are now made for us by the Japanese, and some of the prettiest of these are laced with wicker work. These are particularly suited for hold- ing a few choice flowers that one wishes to protect from the wind. Plant boxes are generally accepted now as a part of the furnishing of an open or closed veranda, and increased attention is being given to their construction from the ar- tistic standpoint. Their decoration should, however, be kept subordinate to the flowers that they are to hold, as they are merely the frame to the picture. On the right combination of colors of the plants in boxes depends their success as a decorative element. Nasturtiums and red geraniums are pleasing together. Pink geraniums, pink begonias and sweet alyssum are another satisfactory combination. Marguerites may be fitted in with any colored flowers to advantage. Flower boxes realize in concentrated form, so much gar- den pleasure, that it does not seem a waste of money to change the plants from time to time as they cease flower- ing-
Text Appearing After Image:
Wild roses and pine in a small basket are sometimes used Apple blossoms show well, mixed with pine in white willow basket

Note About Images