File:American homes and gardens (1909) (17966797898).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar61909newy (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

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N MANY parts of the country, ponds are a nuisance; they absorb undesirable and decay- ing vegetable and animal matter, afford a first-class breeding place for mosquitoes, and a shelter for all kinds of rubbish. Of course, this is the more marked when the pond hap- pens to be near the house. Yet, in spite of this undesirable quality, much can be done with it. To begin at the beginning, it is often wise to drain off much of the water, clean out the bottom of the pond and condense the stream into a narrow channel, and plant the newly exposed area with plants that love damp places. As to the movement, we get that by a clever adjustment and change of levels of the water. It can be made to run over stones and allowed to rest in certain well defined places. It can be held up at intervals so as to encourage movement. In short, if the stream is a nuisance it is mainly our own fault, because there are so many methods by which it can be made to shine as a living light in the garden. As a practical illustration of one of the methods by which this change can be brought about, the accompanying views of the transforming of the bed of an old pond near a road- way, at Chestnut Hill, Pa., will be of some interest. This pond became an iris garden. The stream held back by a dam, its outline changed and adjusted to the requirements of the plants, its depth greatly reduced, became a delightful and vitalizing force, very welcome in the picture. I give a rough sketch outline of the layout, showing the names of the plants and their location. From it will be learned that a rough rustic wall of stones, taken from the field and elsewhere, forms a rude terrace round the edge of the old pond. The wall is sloped toward the hillside so as to hold back the dirt, but care is taken to so lay the stones that they receive most of the rain and so nourish the roots of the small plants which are lodged in the joints. It also helps the roots of the larger trees which stand senti- nel-like round the pond, casting their lace-like shadows over the scene. These trees are a portion of the native woods, to which have been added a tulip, a maple and a spruce. The head of the stream has been raised to husband the water, shaping and controlling it, encouraging it to reserve its force for a leap into the new channel; and the retaining wall at the lower end has been reduced in height so that every drop can be drawn off in the winter season should a
Text Appearing After Image:
The iris garden in sunken bed of the old pond. The rustic bridge is over the cut in a former retaining wall. The iris is but just planted. A second season will greatly change things, filling the beds and massing the flowers in places

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