iLLINOIS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Novem.ber, 1915

WHAT THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS HAVE DONE AND CAN DO TOWARD DESIGNING AND PLANTING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GROUNDS FOR EFFICIENCY AND BEAUTY By WILHELM MILLER Department of Horticulture, Division of Landscape Extension

A forerunner of a prairie type of permanent farm home surrounded by permanent vegetation native to Illinois

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE ' URBANA

Copyrighted, 1915, by the Department of Horticulture. All rights reserved Free to anyone in Illinois who will sign a promise to do some permanent ornamental planting within a year r--"...._ ...... ~ I~

I @m1~®lID.)t i Chapter Page Chapter . Page ~ I- The Prairie Style of Landscape Gardening...... 1 VII-Everyone Can Apply the Principle of Repetition...... 19 I II-Everyone Can Apply the Principle of Conservation ...... 6 VIII-Adapting the Prairie Style to Other Kinds of Scenery...... 22 I ill- A Free Restoration of Ancient Illinois...... 8 IX-Materials Used in the Prairie Style...... 2' ~ IV-Restoration Applied to Farmstead and City Lot ...... 10 X-Some Uses for Illinois Materials ...... 26 I V-Restoring the Romantic Types of Illinois Scenery...... 12 XI-Literature of the Prairie Style of Landscape Gardening ...... 27 ~ VI-Can the Prairie be Restored? ...... 16 XII-The Showiest Plants in the World ...... 28 I

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"Conservation" is the First Principle of the Prairie Style of Landscape Gardening Has your community destroyed its oldest trees or has it saved its scenery, like Riverside? These trees line a river bank, which is not treated as a dump­ heap, while the elders and sumacs show that the lot owners save and encourage in their back yards the luxuriant, native vegetation. I aaa I f

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~~~:;'I HE Middle West is just beginning to evolve a in obvious or subtle ways the horizontal line of land and new style of architecture, interior decoration, and sky which is the most impressive phenomenon on the bound­ T landscape gardening, in an effort to create the. less plains. Also, I aimed to re-create the atmosphere of perfect home amid the prairie states. This the prairie by restoring as high a proportion as possible of movement is founded on the fact that one of the the trees, shrubs, and flowers native to Illinois." greatest as ets which any country or natural part The principles of design on which the "prairie men" lay of it can have, is a strong national or regional most stress are conservation, restoration, and repetition, as character, especially in the homes of the common illustrated on the contents page and by Figs. 2 and 3. people. Its westernism grows out of the most striking pecu­ A great field for applying these principles is offered by liarity of middle-western scenery, which is the prairie, i. e., our parks. Of course, literal restoration of prairie scenery flat or gently rolling land that was treeless when the white is impractical in places that are visited by thousands of man came to Illinois. Some of the progress that has been people daily. But the spirit of truth can be restored to every made toward a prairie style of architecture is incidentally large city park in the ~,1iddle \IVest, witness the Prairie illustrated in these pages. (See front cover, and Figs. 1, 5, River and its adjacent meadow (Fig. 2). Each city can 17, and 76.) produce a different picture by restoring its local color, or The progress in landscape gardening is typified by the characteristic vegetation. There are three ways of doing following statement from one member of the new "middle­ this, for the prairie spirit can be idealized, conventionalized, western school of artists: "When I was landscape gardener or symbolized. For example, it is idealized in the Conserv­ for the West Side parks in Chicago I directed the expendi­ atories (Figs. 25-34) by suggesting the appearance of Illi­ ture of nearly $4,000,000 on proj ects inspired by the prairie. nois in geological periods before the coming of -man. It is Some of the money went for salaries and maintenance, but conventionalized in the Rose-garden (Fig. 8) so much so there was a bond issue of $3,000,000 for new construction. that there are no prairie flowers in it, and in Humboldt bou­ This was chiefly spent on such designs as the Prairie River levard (Fig. 59). It is symbolized in the playground at in Humboldt Park (Fig. 2), the Prairie Rose-garden (Fig. Douglas Park (Figs. 55-56) by means of plants with hori­ 8), and the Conservatories in Garfield Park (Figs. 25-34). zontal branches and flower clusters. Of course, the primary motive was to give recreation and The sam~ principles and methods have been used on pleasure to the people, but the secondary motive was to many private estates, which offer a larger canvas for pure in pire them with the vanishing beauty of the prairie. There­ restorations than the average hrmstead or city lot. How­ fore, I used many symbols of the prairie, i. e., plants with ever, every home can express the new idea in proportion to strongly horizontal branches or flower clu ters that repeat its means. The farmer may idealize his farm view by fram­

1. The Prairie Style of Landscape Gardening Marned to the Prairie Style of Architecture "The environment is woodland," says the landscape architect, "but the newly planted crab apples are designed to frame the view of the house and give an invitation to the prairie which is not far away." (Home of Henry Babson, River F orest; Louis H. Sullivan, architect. ) 2 TI-IE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING • 1­ in middle-western scenery, by preserving, restoring, or repeat­ ing some phase of the prairie. The origin of the "middle­ western movement" in landscape gardening, if it may be so called~ can be traced back to 1878 when Mr. Bryan Lathrop "discov­ ered" Mr. O. C. Simonds and persuaded him to become a land­ scape gardener. The latter then began to layout the new part of Graceland Cemetery, which,. during the next quarter of a cen­ tury, was perhaps the most fa­ mous example of landscape gar­ dening designed by a western man. I t is more than a mere cemetery, for it is full of spirit­ ual suggestion, and its wonder­ ful effects produced by trees and shrubs native to Illinois have profoundly influenced the plant­ ing of home grounds. In 1880 Mr. Simonds began to trans­ plant from the wilds the com­ 2. "Restoration" Is the Second Principle in the Prairie Style The aim is to re·create the spirit of disappearing types of American scenery by restoring as much as possible mon Illinois species of oak, of the "local color" or peculiar character impressed upon each scenic unit by nature thru ages of experiment. maple, ash, hornbeam, pepper­ The famous "Prairie River" in Humboldt Park, Chicago. (Jens Jensen, landscape architect.) idge, thorn apple, witch hazel,. panic1ed dogwood, ~heepberry,. ing it with haws as in Fig. 12. The city dweller may conven­ elder, and the like. Many of these plants have achieved great tionalize the prairie in his garden, as in Fig. 13. The humblest size and beauty. All the species named are nowadays called renter may symbolize the prairie by putting a prairie rose be­ "stratified plants," but there was no talk then of "repetition," side the door, as in Fig. 14. Amid the most artificial surround­ or even of "restoration." The guiding spirit was that respect ings it is possible to hint at the bountiful prairie which sur­ for the quieter beauties of native vegetation which comes to. rounds every city and is the source of its prosperity. Even every cultured person after he has lived a few years among among the tenements, a single brown-eyed daisy in a window the showiest plants from all foreign lands as assembled in box may keep alive the hope of freedom, prosperity, and a life ordinary nurseries and in the front yards of beginners. Grace­ amid more beautiful surroundings. Thus every home in Illi­ land was to be ·a place of rest and peace, not a museum or a nois can connect itself with the greatest source of inspiration gaudy show. Should not the same ideal prevail in our home grounds? The first piece of work done by Mr. Simonds that sug­ gests what is now called "res-· toration," was begun in 1895 at Quincy, Illinois, when its fa­ mous park system overlook inK the Mississippi was projected under the leadership of the late Edward J. Parker. One glance at the plans shows that Mr. Si­ monds had drunk deep of the spirit of Downing and the elder Olmsted, who taught that pres­ ervation of the natural land­ scape is usually more beautiful and less costly than leveling'" every hill and filling every ra­ vine. Some of the best-known work of Mr. Simonds is in Lin­ coln Park, Chicago, but the whole "North Shore" shows his influence in home grounds. Probably the first designer who consciously took the prairie as a leading motive is Mr. Jens Jensen, who was trained in Den-­ mark and came to America in 1883. In 1885 he settled in Chi­ cago and was at once impressed 3. "Repetition" is the Third Principle in the Prairie Style of Landscape Gardening. by the surrounding prairie, The branches or flowers of hawthorns repeat many times on a small scale the horizontal line of land or sky, which was then a sea of grasses which is often the strongest feature of middle·western scenery. Every flat flower cluster is a symbol of the prairie. Grace1and Cemetery, Chicago, has greatly influenced home planting in Illinois. (0. C. Simonds, landscape gardener.) and flowers. Acres of phlox and TI-IE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING 3 •

4-5. Can We Make out of Simple Scenery and Common Plants a Prairie Style of Architecture and Landscape Gardening? Beside the barbed-wire or occasional rail fences of Illinois, the farmer "I purposely repeated the prairie line in the roofs," says the architect, sometimes leaves a relic of "the glory that was," some "repeater of the prairie," William Drummond. "The elder in the back yard echoes the same note. It i. e., a harmless shrub with fl at fl ower clusters, like elder, dogwood, or viburnum. suggests that this house would look more homelike with foundation planting." blazing star and thousands of compass plants were a familiar architects of the western school. He planned many houses in sight. The first design in which prairie flowers were used in the prairie style. His chief American work in landscape a large, impressive way, was made in 1901 for 1\11 r. Chalmers architecture has been done at DeKalb, Decatur, Oak Park, at Lake Geneva. Here were planted hundreds of the wild Hubbard's \tVoods, Edwardsville, and Veedersburg, Indiana. Phlox paniculata, parent of more than 400 garden varieties; The planting list for DeKalb shows that as early as 1906 he hundreds of purple flags (Iris versicolor) collected from the was using a high percentage of plants native to Illinois-espe­ banks of the Desplaines river, and hundreds of swamp rose cially the stratified materials. In 1912 he won a world-com­ mallows which glorify the rivers of Illinois in August with petition for a city plan for Canberra, the new capital of Aus­ their pink flowers five inches in diameter. The first attempt to tralia. Mr. Griffin must be regarded as a middle-western land­ epitomize the beauty of Illinois rivers was made in 1901 for scape architect, since he maintains an office in Illinois and un­ Mr. Harry Rubens at Glencoe, where there are a miniature dertakes new work in the Middle \tVest. spring, brook, waterfall, and lake (Figs. 47-48 ) . Practically There are many other good landscape gardeners now prac­ all the surrounding trees, shrubs, and flower:s were planted, ticing in the Middle \tVest. Those who acknowledge the prairie and more than ninety-five percent of the species grow wild as a leading motive in their work, are, however, not numerous within a mile of the spot. From 1905 to 1907 he designed and at the time this paper is prepared. There are several young planted the Prairie River and Prairie Rose-garden in Humboldt men whose work is promising, but not mature or extensive Park, and the Conservatories in Garfield Park. enough to show their feeling for the prairie style. One of A third landscape architect who has been greatly influ­ the older men has submitted an itemized list of his work in the enced by the prairie is Walter Burley Griffin. He received prairie style done in Illinois and nearby states since 1901 which his training in landscape gardening at the University of Illi­ makes the respectable total of $6,000,000. nois, and supplemented it by work in the offices of several Whether the work here described and illustrated consti­

6. A Farm View without a Frame of Trees 7. A Farm View Framed by Hawthorns in Bloom Altho corn is considered one of the most beautiful crops, peovle often The farmer can increase the natural beauty of his pasture or cornfields by complain that 111inois scenery is tame and monotonous. The wild praIrie, with planting trees near his front door, beside the dining-room window, along the its varied fl owers, has gone forever. How can men restore flowers and poetic r oad, or wherever he can frame a good view. Especially suitable are stratified suggestion to a land nearly ninety percent of which is tilled? trees, like haws, crabs, honey locust, and flowering dogwood. 4 THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT' IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

them as the formal and informal manners. For example, the prairie style has been executed in the formal manner, as in the Rose-garden (Fig. 8), thO' it is generally executed in the informal manner. Authoritative books commonly speak of the 'garden­ esque style,' which is typified by canna beds in the middle of the lawn. Surely all the middle-western work is better than that, and even the m,ost conser­ vative examples are colored more or less by middle-western materials. For these reasons I am willing to accept 'the prairie style of landscape garden­ ing' (a phrase which I did not pro­ pose) until a better name for this new thing is discovered and agreed upon." The settlement of this amicable 8. The Prairie Style can be Executed in the Formal Manner difference of opinion we leave to our This rose garden in Humboldt Park i's so conventionalized that it contains no prairie flowers. "But," says the designer, "I put hawthorns at the entrance to suggest the meeting of woods and prairie. Also readers. Whether the new work is I lowered the garden two feet in order to get the flowers well below the level of the eye as they are on the prairie in the spring. I gave the people the obvious beauty of roses and I hope a subtle charm also." good or bad, time alone can tell. Per­ haps the publication of this circular should have been postponed a century tutes a new style or not is an interesting and important ques­ or two. On the other hand, the average person has a strange tion. One of the conservative group among the middle-west­ disinclination to wait a hundred years for the news. The peo­ ern landscape gardeners says, "I doubt if there is any western ple of Illinois actually seem glad to know about a new thing style of art. Good design must always grow out of the ne­ before it is too late for them to' benefit by it. And they are cessities peculiar to each case-not out of pet theories. I am generally willing to assume full responsibility for their own not conscious of any new principles of design." As to motives, opinions. We do not advise anyone style of architecture or of course, the creator of an artwork is the final authority, but landscape gardening for all conditions, nor have we any quar­ as to results the general public is entitled to an opinion. The rel with those who prefer older styles of architecture and popular belief is that the man just quoted has a style of his gardening. All we ask is that every reader see some of the own, and that his work also possesses an indefinable quality new work for himself, with a mind free from prejudice. that may be called middle-western. He generally uses a rather large proportion of western plants-more than most eastern landscape gardeners whO' have done important work in Illinois. Definition of the "Illinois Way" When the same question was put to one of the progres­ The Illinois way of planting is not a sive or prairie group he replied: "Undoubtedly there is a new system of design. The original defini­ middle-western style of landscape gardening. All good design tion says, "The Illinois way is to meet all that meets western conditions counts toward a western style. the outdoor needs of the family by having Style, according to Webster, is a characteristic or peculiar ninety percent of the planting composed of " mode of developing an idea or accomplishing a result. The Symb0 I 0 f the III mOlS trees and shrubs• that grow wild" in Illinois." conservatives unconsciously use, to some extent, conservation, Way-Illinois or However, m the n10st exactmg and artl- restoration, and repetition. The middle-western work is not Prairie Rose . fi CIa. I C0'n d'ItlOns, . 1'1I

9-10. Before and After Restoring the Native Flora to a Man-Made Watercourse in Humboldt Park "This bank had been denuded of its original vegetation," says the designer. "The margin did not look as bad as this, because it was grassed, but it was not redeemed by a single tree, shrub, or flower. The location is identified by a good old cottonwood in the p~rk and an exclamatory Lomba rdi poplar, which I spared in a moment of weakness. I shall be glad when the poplar dies, for it cuts like a knife thru the billowy masses of western woodland." THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

Around the foundations of the ordinary house, forty to fifty statues weregro\v­ percent may be suitable, while the borders may contain sixty ing out of the rock to' ninety percent of Illinois species with general satisfaction. at Athens! Therefore, the following revised definition is proposed: "The In the g rea t Illinois way of planting is to use as high a proportion of plants work of fitting native to Illinois as is consistent with practical requirements homes to the prai­ and the principles of de ign." In this sense, our neighboring rie country every states may have an Iowa or Indiana way, using the same plants one of us may that we do, for there is no plant of importance native to Illinois have a part, for that is not also native to other prairie states. And, by the eve r yon e may same method, every state in the Union can develop a beauty of strive tnwards a its own, even if no state is a scenic unit. permanent home sur r 0 u nded by Definition of the "Prairie Style" permanent native The prairie style of landscape gardening, plants. Let us do however, is a genuine style in the opinion of all we .can to help several critics, for it is based on a geo­ realize an Illinois graphic, climatic, and scenic unit, and type of farmhouse Symbol of the Pra irie Style it employs three accepted principles of married to an Illi­ 11. The Minnesota Model Farmhouse - A Strati fi ed Hawthorn.· . f . desIgn-conservatIOn 0 natIve scen­ nois type of in­ Plans secured (1913) by Minnesota State Art terior decoration Society, published by University of Minnesota, St. ery, restoration of local vegetation, and repetition of a domi­ Paul in Extension Bulletin 52 . Who will help nant line. However, it is not a system of rules and there never and I and s cap e Illin~is develop an Illinois !ype of farmhouse set in can be anything of the sort in any fine art, tho people crave it gardening. a farmstead designed for efficiency and beauty? forever. In good design there are only principles. Nor is the Note on Chapter Endings prairie style a mere collection of novel features, such as camp­ To meet the ever-recurring question, "vVhat shall we do?" fires, players' greens, council hills, prairie gardens, and Illinois we have put, at the ends of certain chapters, summaries in borders. Features never make a style. Sundials, pergolas, and the form of practical suggestions headed by the phrase "I blue spruces may fit certain conditions to perfection, but a man will" or "We will." The former is a motto of Chicago; the who uses them in every plan is open to the suspicion of being latter has been suggested as a new, informal motto for Illinois. an inferior designer. Therefore, until something better can be Is your family united on any of the projects named below? had, the following definition is proposed: The prairie style of If not, the "We will" suggestions may help you agree on what landscape gardening is an American mode of design based upon you wish to do. Again, to realize one's ideal it is often helpful the practical needs of the middle-western people and character­ to record one's aim. If you wish to record an individual de­ ized by preservation of typical western scenery, by restoration termination or family agreement you may make a cross in the of local color, and by repetition of the horizontal line of land appropriate square. Such action commits nobody to any ex­ or sky which is the strongest feature of prairie scenery. pense or publicity. It is merely a private memorandum. To those who are in danger of being carried away by new fashions, may we give a word of caution? The best gardens WE WILL cannot be had simply for paying money and copying or imitat­ o See some of the chief works of the western landscape ing. One must patiently study fundamental principles. There gardeners. . is nothing new about the principles used in the prairie style; o Have a landscape gardener make a comprehensive design only their applications are new. Some even declare that the for our home grounds. only new thing in the world is undying zeal for hard, persistent D Draw to scale a plan for our farmstead or city lot and get work in adapting old principles to new conditions. Surely the best advice we can. there is no other way to produce that thing which is infinitely D Connect with the "Illinois way" by putting in our front more precious than the universal, endless imitation of the past­ yard at least one mass of shrubs native to Illinois. a living national art which grows out of the heart of the people D Study some of the best "prairie houses," indoors and out, and which the humblest mortal can understand and enjoy, as with a mind free from prejudice. every Greek did in the thrilling new days when temples and D Build a farmhouse or country home in prairie style.

12-14. Three Ways by which Every Illinoisan can Bring the Prairie Spirit into his Home Grounds in Country or City 12. Idealize the f arm view, e. g. , frame it with 13. Conventionalize the prairie, e. g., put into 14. Symbolize the prairie, e. g., plant Illinois. haws, crabs, or honey locust. the formal garden some flat-topped flowers. or prairie ro!'es beside the front door. 6 THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

15-16. Is your Community Butchering its Trees, or is it Saving them as Urbana Does ? The elms at the right and all other street trees in Urbana are being saved by a public-spirited citizen, who serves as "tree warden" without pay. No on e can sut down, prune, or plant a tree without his permission. Cannot your community have a city forester or shade-tree commission? 11-Everyone Can Apply the Principle of Conservation I T 'WILL do little good to bewail the beauty 6. Help save the state's scenery. Join an has a Conservation Department with commit­ that has been destroyed in Illinois. Let us organization that works for state reservations, tees on forestry (including street trees, water­ save the beauty that is left. Here is a simple like White Pine Grove, Cahokia Mounds, and ways, birds, and Lincoln Highway). The chair­ program that may help every reader decide the proposed addition to Starved Rock. man of the Conservation Department is Mrs. what he can do for this great cause. John Dickinson Sherman, Hyde Park Hotel, 1. Save the trees on your home grounds. Chicago. Have a tree surgeon examine them and esti­ Organizations Devoted to Conservation The Illinois Federation of Woman's Clubs mate the cost of putting them in perfect condi­ has a Conservation Department, the chairman tion. Locate the new house so as to save ONLOCAL propositions it is generally best of which is Mrs. Charles W. Irion, Ottawa, trees (see Figs. 17 and 76). Let every farmer to work thru the Chamber of Commerce Illinois. save a few trees for shade and beauty, even or the Woman's Club. if they do harm crops a little. For example, The National Conservation Association, of I WILL save some trees along the roadside, around the which Gifford Pinchot is president, is devoted farmstead, near the barns, and at least one to saving our natural resources, especially the o Write to national, state, and local organ­ tree in the permanent pasture. See Figs. 19-20. forests, waterways, and minerals. The secre­ izations interested in conservation, study 2. Help save the street trees. Take the tary is Harry A. Slattery, Colorado building, their literature, and help them all I can. trees out of politics and put them in charge Washington, D. C. o Work and vote for the extension of the of a public-spirited citizen serving without pay The American Civic Association, of which state park system to include all types of -a city forester, or tree warden (see Figs. J. Horace McFarland is president, is devoted Illinois scenery. 15-16). He can stop tree butchery caused by largely to city planning, including housing. It o Ask the county highway superintendent to telegraph and telephone companies. has issued important publications on smoke, save trees, shrubs, and flowers on state 3. Help save roadside trees and shrubs. See billboards, saving Niagara, and other subjects. and country roadsides. The secretary is Richard Watrous, 913 Union your township supervisor or county superin­ o Work and vote to help our community ex­ tendent of highways. Show him Figs. 21 to 24 Trust building, Washington, D. C. The Friends of Our Native Landscape, of tend its system of local parks and res­ and 51 to 54. ervations, and to save the street trees. 4. Help save the watercourses. Get the au­ which J ens Jensen is president, aim to save thorities to forbid their use as dumping grounds all types of native scenery by means of na­ o Gi ve the people some piece of scenery to (see contents page). tional, state, and local r eservations. The sec­ enjoy forever. 5. Help save the historic features of your retary is Sherman M. Booth, Borland building, o Save the permanent native vegetation on community and give them a proper setting. Chicago. my farm or home grounds, as far as See Fig. 18. The General Federation of Woman's Clubs possible.

17. Let us Save the Trees on our Home Grounds 18. Sav~ Every Historic Feature and Give It a Proper Setting! "Because I love trees I bought this lot and snuggled my house among them, "Lincoln often slept in this century-old cabin-the first built in Piatt county. so that three big trees are growing thru the front porch. I cut a hole in the We moved it to an environment like the original. Many old settlers' cabins are eaves to mak.e room for one."-William Drummond, River Forest. now preserved in parks and more should be."-William 'F. Lodge, Monticello. THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING 7

19-20. Have you sent your Woodlot to the Sawmill, or have you Saved it? "Here is the sawmill with which I cut up my neighbors' trees, but not my own. If they insist on selling their birthright, I might as well have some of the pottage. But before I accept a job I remind my neighbor that for three generations my family has never cut a tree on our farm, just because they are beautiful. And the fourth generation promises to do the same. At the right are some of our trees."-L. D. Seass, Arthur, Illinois.

21-22. Have you Saved the "Brush" along the Roadside? Farmers, will you reduce your

23-24. Have you Saved the Trees along the Roadside for Shade and Beauty? These ash trees at the left were cut down for the usual reason, "they harmed ten rows of corn." The trees at the right have been preserved near Sidell • by getting every supervisor to agree not to cut them down. Trees in the middle of a road have great educational value because they compel attention. 8 THE PRAJRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING III-A Free Restoration of Ancient Illinois A SERIES OF LANDSCAPES UNDER GLASS, SUGGESTING THE BEAUTY OF VANISHED AND DISAPPEARING TYPES OF SCENERY

ARK design is an important part of land­ provement, but when the plans were explained, of view. We need to realize that modern P scape gardening, and a popular feature in the people became enthusiastic. Illinois contains equally beautiful scenery that every large park system is a range of green­ Instead of the customary potted plants on we thoughtlessly destroy, but ought to save or houses. The famous Conservatories in Gar­ high benches we are surprised to find these restore. fie ld Park, Chicago, have attracted hundreds nature-like gardens. The most intelligent vis­ Few communities in Illinois can afford of thousands of visitors and have been pro­ itors are deeply moved by these exquisite greenhouses large enough for such landscapes nounced the "best of the kind in the world." scenes and feel that they convey an idea too under glass, but they all have a great oppor­ Prior to 1906 the West Side had three small, deep for words. This intuition is correct, for tunity out-of-doors. Every large park can old-fashioned greenhouses in separate parks. the designer's motive is restoration. His pic­ preserve or re-create one epitome of the These buildings were visited by few persons tures do not pretend to furnish a literal, scenery and vegetation of Illinois. and could hardly be said to adorn the scenery. scientific restoration of any particular geo­ Can you not apply the principle of restora­ The new landscape gardener proposed to de­ logical epoch, such as a museum might have. tion to your own home grounds? These pic­ stroy them in favor of one great new struc­ The idea is poetical-to suggest the tropical tures should stimulate your imagination. If ture in which Chicagoans could take real beauty of prairie-land before the coming of you have room for only one bush to symbolize pride. At first the project was resisted, for man. And the reason for this is that we need the vanished scenery, may we suggest the no locality likes to lose any permanent im­ to see our surroundings from a fresh point· prairie rose? See also pages 24, 25.

25. The First Spring in Prairie-Land 26. First Cascade in First Prairie River 26a. A Man-Made Cascade in Kentucky This man-made rockwork is so successful that Perhaps it stepped down then as now, with giant One of the many ways in which the restoration visitors commonly believe that it is a natural spring, ferns, like the golden polypody arching over the spirit expresses itself out-of-doors. This is forty­ around which the greenhouse was built. cliffs like falling water. two inches high and cost about $40.

27. When Chicago was a Jungle 28. The First Hint of Stratification, or Repetition of the Prairie Line The first greenhouse contains a long vista like a Tropical evergreens, like Norfolk Island pines or araucarias, may have sounded the n ote now echoed tunnel lined with palms and ferns. At the end is this by white pines beside Lake MichilSan and hawthorns on the prairie. The rocks of this primitive water­ fountain, which alternately leaps and disappears. course are horizontally stratified like the St. P eter sandstone of some prairie rivers of today. THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING 9

Some Ancient River Bluff or Rolling Prairie When the forest may have been composed of tree ferns and fringed with This open, central lawn (one of the fundamental conceptions of landscape Vent's' hair, forel"unner of our matchless hardy maidenhair. Let us restore to gardening out-of-doors) is not composed of vertical grass blades. To give the woodlots and river banks the overhan~ing bushes and ferns that form the most prairie feeling the designer used a moss-like plant with stratified foliage--Selagi­ picturesque and romantic element in l1uddle-western scenery! nella den,ticulata. In Fig. 25 he used the moisture-loving S. Martensii.

31. The Original Woodland Border 32. The Primitive Glade in a Middle-Western Forest Not like the stark southern pine forests where there is no undergrowth to Half-close the eyes, and the hard brick walk becomes the winding trail that soften the abrupt descent from tall trees to fiat meadow. The transition from leads to woodland mysteries, hinting of primeval campfires, council rocks, and forest to prairie made by haws and crabs should be the motive of our hardy borders. players' greens. Forest and prairie subtly connected by stratified maidenhair.

33. The Beginning of a Prairie Bog 34. The Margin of some Ancient "Lake Illinois" Here are water hyacinth, cardamon, umbrella plant, and the palm-like cur­ When tropical plants arched over the bank, as do these tree ferns, carda· culigo. In modern bogs grow orchids, pitcher plants, and fringed gentian. Shall mon, and Nephrolepis. Let us put this grace into hardy water gardens by we save no moist spot near each community where future generations may enjoy planting the Comus stolonifera, Typha angustifolia, and Calamagrostis of the _the unique flowers of bog gardens? prairie rivers. 10 THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

35-36. The Kind of Restoration that costs the Farmer not one Cent-only the Labor of Collecting and Planting Waterside Flowers The cattle must have a place to drink, but why not restore to some creeks the original margin of shrubs and perennials? The first picture typifies the "early goose pond" style of treating water in city parks. The second shows a restoration in an Illinois city park. (Pickerel weed and calamus. ) IV- Restoration Applied to Farmstead and City Lot EVEN WHEN LITTLE MONEY AND SPACE ARE AVAILABLE, EVERYONE CAN APPLY THE PRINCIPLE OF RESTORATION

HE aim of restoration is to re-create as For example, take the two extreme cases variety of Virginia creeper so common in Illi­ T much of the local scenery or vegetation of the people who have no money and those nois that, for purposes of sentiment, we may as is practical. Like every other great idea, who have no land. The farm laborer goes to call it the "Illinois creeper." He has two holes restoration can be expressed in some way by the woods, digs up an unknown bush or vine cut in the concrete sidewalk, and plants his everyone. No matter how humble the individ­ and plants it beside his tenant cottage. To souvenirs of Illinois. To him they may recall ual or how crude the expression, the effort is him it may suggest the fatherland from which the parents that are gone, or they may remind worth while because it is one's own experience he has just come, or the child on whose birth­ him of "the day" when he is to shut up shop and not another's. On one square foot of day it was planted, or the place he likes to for good and retire to a country home. The ground a child expresses his love of country go on Sunday afternoons. It is a crude ex­ passers-by know nothing of all this, but they in a map of sand, epitomizing the whole pression of the manifold charms of Illinois are glad to see some sign of country beauty United States by using pebbles for mountains, woodland, but to this immigrant it is a step in the city. They say, "Life is not all dollars maple seedlings for forests, and a little real toward naturalization, perhaps even the begin­ to that man." , water for the Great Lakes and the Mississippi. ning of wisdom. Moreover, real beauty is Can such simple plantings be called "resto­ This effort means more to the child than a bet­ there for everyone to see and enj oy. The rations" in any important sense? Certainly, if ter map made or bought for him by others. country folk pause and think: "Life is not all they honestly express the individual's love So, too, every "grown-up" in Illinois can corn and hogs-to him." of the local scenery, combined with his apply the principles of landscape gardening. On the other hand, the city merchant may love of home, and town, and state. Restora­ have plenty of money, but not one foot of The popular notion that landscape gardening tion is fundamentally an act of the spirit; is only for city parks and the wealthy few is earth in front of his store. Let us assume a great mistake. Of course, the grandest pub­ that he is tired of the artificial surroundings the scale of operations is incidental. If lic examples involve much space and cost, but and goes to the country for a day's rest and there is space or money available only for so far as self-expression goes, landscape gar­ change. And, while there, an idea comes to a pair of Illinois roses beside the front door, dening offers as great an opportunity to every him-he will have something more permanent anything more is pretense. The essential thing living soul as music does, or any other fine and natural than window boxes. He will is to plant some permanent reminder of the art. The one principle that everyone can have vines-the kind he used to like as a boy native beauty, and the cost should always apply is restoration. on the farm, the narrow-leaved "woodbine," a be well within one's means. A person may

37-38. Scene of a Woodlot Restoration in Vermilion County, where the Aim is Typified by these Illinois Bluebells "Like many other farmers, I must plead guilty to harming the beauty of woodlots by cutting out shrubs and letting animals destroy the flowers. But I am now restocking this grove. This process costs a good deal more than saving the original ground-cover. Since I have no business but farming and live on the farm the year round, I feel that my family is entitled to some of the enjoyments that can be had only in the country."-Harvey J. Sconce, Sidell, Illinois. TI-IE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING II

prefer to have foreign plants in his garden 6. The creel? He can restore some of outhouse, by wild grape, trumpet creeper, but he must care enough about the native the marginal vegetation. See Figs. 35, 36. common sumac, elder, and other Illinois kinds to plant some of them in the public 7. The woodlot. He can restore many plants that are sometimes considered rather part of his property. For restoration means wild flowers simply by fencing a piece of coarse for the front of the house. See more than mere gardening-more than the woods. See Figs. 37, 38. contents page and Figs. 4, 5. planting of double roses and lilacs, the 8. Edges of fi elds. He can attract the 3. Views. He can frame the view of his beauty of which everyone can see. The song birds that are friendly to his crops by home, for example, by a pair of elms, haws, "restorer" must prove that he wants to be planting at the edges or corners of one or or prairie crab apples, or if he considers his surrounded by common, native things, rather more fie lds some native shrubs, especially house ugly, he can transform it by hiding than by rare and costly foreigners. the kinds that do not breed pests or rob much of it with vines. Is such restoration of any value to the the soil too much. 4. Boundaries. He can enclose the back public? Undoubtedly. Even if the results 9. Roadside. He can plant beside the yard with an irregular border of native were wholly subjective and individual they public road a few trees and some harmless shrubs in variety, instead of with an artificial would be worth while because everyone is shrubs and flowers, and he can often per­ and monotonous privet hedge. better for making some harmless expres­ suade the commissioner not to cut them 5. Front yard. He can help tie the whole sion of an unselfish ideal. But the results down. See Figs. 51, 52. street into a park by persuading the neighbors are evident to all! The Illinois rose beside 10. The whole farm. By "planting the to plant "connecting shrubbery" from the the door is beautiful in itself and every year waste land to scenery" he can create a front of one house to another. it will come to mean more to every passer­ private park-not as showy as the million­ 6. Parking. He can restore old trees to by because it will suggest pleasant thoughts aire's, but beautiful and appropriate. good health thru tree surgeons; he can of Illinois. Everyone will know that it is Mr. Farmer, can you not take all or most combine with his neighbors to get a uni­ put there not to display wealth, but in the of these steps in about five years? It may form street tree at uniform distances, or pure spirit of restoration. Everyone will cost a good deal, but it will be worth while. plant low shrubbery. See back cover. know that it is not intended to deceive, You cannot transplant everything from the 7,. Entire lot. He can have a plan made for no bush can imitate the prairie, and no per­ wild without expense. Surely you can see for the whole ' property, arranging in good son can ever mistake a tree for a forest. But, the wisdom of. buying your Illinois species order all features. He can restore the every year, more people accept the stratified whenever nursery stock is better or cheaper birds, with the aid of shrubbery, especially bush or fiat-topped flower as a symbol of the than collected stock. You should also see the Illinois dogwoods and viburnums. prairie and therefore of peace, freedom, and the wisdom of getting the best advice and Everyone of these acts can, and usually plenty. Every year more people accept the designs that you can afford-especially at should be, an act of restoration in some de­ prairie rose'as a symbol of the "Prairie State" the outset. All or most of these plantings gree. Every list of the most efficient plants of Illinois. When people see that rose in your may be acts of restoration, instead of copy may include some Illinois materials-a low per­ yard, their eyes brighten and their manner work. If you use only foreign and artificial centage near the house, and a higher one at says, "It is for Illinois. You have restored varieties your place will make a gaudy con­ the boundaries. something of her native beauty." trast with the country scenery. If you re­ There is little danger of carrying resto­ store a high percentage of Illinois trees and ration too far in cities. The great danger is What the Average Farmer Can Restore shrubs your home will fit the landscape. that all front yards will look too gaudy, be­ cause beginners tend to buy the showiest THE ordinary farmer has little time, labor, varieties, like blue Colorado spruce and or knowledge of design and ornamental W hat the City Lot Owner Can Restore plants, but he has two immense advantages­ golden elder. Consequently they often plant HE renter in a city cannot afford to 90 to 100 percent of foreign varieties. T he plenty of room (often 160 acres), and a chance T make costly permanent improvements, same percentage of' native plants would be to collect wild shrubs and flowers. Starting but the average owner of a city lot is justi­ more restful. We do not ask anyone to . with no cash outlay and a day's work in the fied in doing so. His great trouble is not fall, he can accomplish eventually ten things. deny himself any flower he likes-only to about money (for we are assuming that move to the back yard the things that 1. Foundation planting. He can make the everyone keeps within his means and takes rarely fit the front yard, for example, cut­ house look like a home by moving some shrubs his time to do these things), but he has less leaved, weeping, variegated, and tropical from the woods. space than the farmer. On the other hand, plants. Everyone has a place of unques­ 2. Screens. He can hide part of the he can give more time per year to orna­ tioned privilege in the back yard, provided barnyard and out-buildings, at least from mental gardening than the farmer, because it is shut off from the public gaze, but the his windows. he needs outdoor exercise after his day's front yard is public. And the real question 3. Views. He can frame the view of his work. Starting with no knowledge of is, "Shall we have 90 to 100 percent for­ horticulture, and with whatever leisure the house from the road and the best view of eigners, or shall we have a clear suggestion gardening members of the family may have, his farm from the house by transplanting a of Illinois such as a majority of native the average lot owner can accomplish pair of red haws. See Fig. 7. plants may give?" 4. The border. He can enclose the farm­ eventually about seven things. stead with an irregular border of shrubbery 1. Foundation planting. He can restore W E W ILL that will give more year-round beauty than something of the Illinois vegetation, even o Restore native scenery or vegetation to our a hedge, trimmed or untrimmed. in this exacting location, for example, by farm at some of the ten places mentioned 5. The f armstead. He can plant the viburnum (Fig. 40), fragrant sumac, or above. whole farmstead to meet the above-named prairie rose (Fig. 39). o Restore native vegetation to our city lot, needs of the family, as well as shade, play­ 2. Screens. He can hide some of the un­ at some of the seven places mentioned ground, laundry yard, etc. sigh tly surroundings, such as high fence or above.

39. Every Illinoisan can Restore some Prairie Roses 40. Every Illinoisan can Restore some Ininois Viburnums Literal restoration of scenery is, of course, impossible amid cramped and E ach year more people accept the stratified bush or flat·topped flower as a _ artificial surroundings, but each year more people accept the prairie rose as a symbol of the prairie. This is Viburnum pubescens. One of the best for founda· symbol of the Prairie State. tion planting is Viburnum dentatum. 12 THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

41-42. Before and after Restoring a Typical Creek and Ravine in Northeastern Illinois Thi.s picture was taken only a few feet away fro:u the next and sho~s. that The owners have re~tored. canoeing f or abou.t 1,000 feet, using city water the ravll1e was nearly dry, as are most of the raVInes alon g Lake MIchIgan, from thl ee three-qua rter-mch pIpes. A da m reta ms the water, which does not owing, as some assert, to drainage caused by dense population. Also the wild evaporate rapidly, owing to the shade. They have planted many n ursery-grown flow ers had been destroyed hy picnic parties. wild flowers. Home of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Rosenwald, Ravinia, Illinois. v- Restoring the Romantic Types of Illinois Scenery EIGHT TYPES OF PICTURESQUE SCENERY DIFFERENT FROM THE PRAIRIE, WITH EXAMPLES OF THEIR RESTORATION

LL varieties of Illinois scenery can, for broadly speaking, a steep, high, clay-bank can encompass during a single lifetime sink A practical purposes, be resolved into that is continually being eaten away by the into insignificance." water. See Fig. 43. Fortunes have been nine types, of which the prairie is most im­ Restoration of the Ravines portant, since it probably affects the great~ spent to save these bluffs from further de­ est number of homes. The eight other struction, and tens of thousands of dollars HE immense popular appeal of the types may be regarded as foils to the have been spent on restoration schemes of T ravines has been fatal to their highest prairie. They are the lake bluffs, ravines, every sort-the bluffs being generally thickly beauty. First, the ravines attracted many river-banks, ponds, rocks, dunes, woods, and planted with trees and shrubs in great va­ home-builders, who soon demanded storm roadsides. The roadside, of course, is not a riety by dozens of private owners. "Un­ sewers, and these, according to some au­ natural unit, but it is an asylum for the fortunately," writes E. L. Millard of High­ thorities, carried away much of the water wild flowers, and it has immense possibil­ land Park, "practically all places are still that formerly gave the effect of charming ities for beauty thru planting. The beauty in the 'locust stage' of development, the creeks. Second, the ravines attract great of the eight minor types is of the ob­ locust being the best soil-binder at the Sunday crowds from Chicago, and these vious and popular sort, because of their start, but an unsightly tree owing to the have despoiled the ravines of wild flowers. romantic or picturesque character. But the attacks of borers. The highest type of Under such conditions, restoration may be beauty of the prairie is harder to under­ beauty worked out by nature along this impossible unless private places are closed stand. It may be well for us to consider shore can be inferred from five priceless to the public, except during certain hours the eight minor types of scenery before we fragments at and near Lake Forest that when supervision can be provided. Perhaps try to restore the prairie. should be preserved with reverential care the largest and most consistent restoration forever. The supreme plants, in my opinion, is that made by Mr. and Mrs. Julius Rosen­ Restoration of the Lake Bluffs are the white pine, red cedar, arborvit

43-44. Many Restorations of the Lake Bluffs have been made North of Chicago At the right is the Cyrus H. McCormick place, Lake Forest, where about 150 species, mostly natives, clothe the banks. This wide beach has been created by means of jetties and the willows in the ioreground, which were originally planted at the limits of wave action. Warren H. Manning, landsca pe designer. THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

45. "Away with Gaudy Foreigners Artificial "This overgrown nursery in Humboldt Park," says the designer, "was full of brilliant 'best-sellers,' such as cut·leaved, weeping, and variegated shrubs. These may be jewels in themselves, but superb specimens of them can be seen every­ where and forever. Shall we turn the whole outdoor world into a museum?"

Restoration of the River Banks work modeled after VERY Illinoisan knows about the three that of the Rock E great rivers in which we have a share, river. See Circular the Mississippi, Wabash, and Illinois, but to 170, Fig. 105. The de­ realize the wonderful possibilities of our signer deliberately water system for use, recreation, and discarded all foreign beauty one must see a map devoted entirely materials (see Figs. to our watercourses, showing how few and 45, 46) because he small are the areas which the people cannot was attempting to re­ 46. "Restore the Native Vegetation!" reach by means of a ten-cent fare or an create a pure Illinois "Mr. Corngrower, can you see beauty in your creek, even when there is n ot hour's ride in an automobile or a farm landscape. By so do­ a single flower or striking f orm? If so, you understand why we swept away buggy. Many of these watercourses have ing he denied him­ the showier vegetation of Fig. 45 and restored the simple beauty you often been denuded or desecrated and all sorts of self many showy thoughtlessly destroy. If you destroy it, will your children stay on the farm?" restorations have been made in various flowers which he be­ parts of the state. Perhaps the largest lieves are among the finest that can be used or flowers. Every citizen has a chance to and most consistent restoration is the in ordinary landscape gardening. For ex­ work and vote for restoration of water­ "Prairie River" in Humboldt Park, Chicago, ample, he would not use pink or yellow water courses in park and community plans. which aims to epitomize or suggest the lilies in Fig. 2, because they would not be true Restoration of Ponds, Pools, and Lakes characteristic beauty of the Illinois rivers to nature. Fortunately, we can see these beauti­ as a whole. See Fig. 2. The "river," which ful foreign plants in every park, but faithful HILE Illinois is not as rich in small is man-made, is 1,650 feet long, and varies restorations of by-gone scenery a re rare. W lakes as the states to her north, the in width from 52 to 108 feet. It has several Every property owner along a watercourse or total amount of sti11 or slowly-moving wa­ branches and some cascades, with rock- drainage ditch may restore some trees, shrubs, ters is respectable. Moreover, many city

47-48. Restoration vs. Show, or Inspiration vs. Desecration "I shall n ot allow any showy geraniums or other foreign flowers to spoil the composition made f or the previous owner of my place-Mr. Harry Rubens. The aim was to re·create an Illinois water system in miniature-spring, brook, cascade, river, and lake. These pictures were taken before all the Illinois species were - planted. The Japanese iris and geraniu_ns were stop-gaps until wild iris and prairie phlox could be established."-James Simpson, Glencoe. 14 I'HE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

49-50. This Formal Garden was Destroyed by the Owner in favor of a Restoration of the Rocks 'vV. A. Simms of Spring Station, Kentucky, has taken the rocks beneath his lawn and, with the aid of an Illinois designer, built a miniature water system to epitomize the beauty of the ravines. K. D. Alexander has restored to a natural ravine the rock-loving flowers of his own county. No foreign flowers are tol­ erated. The :same stratified rocks are found in Illinois and the same methods are practical where rocks and ravines occur. residents are glad to consider a small water rugged and picturesque ledge. Such an act dently the owner regards quiet scenery as a garden, provided the expense for water mav be called restoration, even if the vegeta­ more refined type of beauty than floral dis­ can be kept well within their means. Per­ tion be destroyed, because it restores to the play, and such is the sober judgment of most haps the most consistent restoration of the scenery a dramatic element that has been authors of books on landscape gardening. Illinois water scenery on any private place hidden. Many property owners along the Lately a Wisconsin limestone has become is the one at Glencoe, at the home of Mr. Rock and Illinois rivers can apply this prin­ popular in northern Illinois for stepping James Simpson. See Fig. 48. The designer of ciple, especially at river bends. stones, ledges, dancing springs, cascades, and this garden says, "I aimed to reproduce in Most Illinoisans have just the opposite prob­ other naturalistic rockwork. miniature the atmosphere and characteristic lem, because of the scarcity of rocks. N ew­ vegetation of Illinois rivers as a whole, comers f rom the East often get so homesick Restoration of the Dunes especially the watercourses of the ravine for the sight of a stone that they import or HE reader probably fancies that dunes country, when the ravines were young." dig up boulders, at considerable expense, and T and sandy soil are of little interest or im­ This has been done on a piece of land 240 these are often displayed in the front yard or portance to Illinoisans. On the contrary, a feet long, and from 30 to 60 feet wide, or parking as curiosities. Such features are more large part of Chicago is so sandy that many about one-fourth of an acre. Most of the appropriate in back yards. The common rock thousand lot owners are having great trouble large trees in Figs. 47 and 48 were there, garden of the East, which is copied from the and expense in growing trees and shrubs, while but everything else has been planted, in­ Alps via England, may be justifiable in a few the key to the whole problem is at the dunes, cluding the red cedars. Numerous restored Illinois back yards, but mountain flowers are just beyond the state line, near Gary, Indiana. ponds of the type shown in Fig. 48 have been hardly appropriate to prairie scenery, and the A popular complaint today in a large part made, for example, such as at River Forest by plants of cool, moist climates do not thrive of Chicago is "We can't grow anything in Henry Babson, and at Bloomington by Spencer in our hot, dry summers. A new type 'of rock pure sand." After failure along conventional Ewing. garden aiming to fit our scenery and climate lines, a few members of the PrairieOub be­ is being evolved. One step is the stratified gan to bring back from walks to the dunes Restoration of Rocks rockwork in the Prairie River. (Circular 170, some of the celebrated beauties of that region, OCKS are so rare in Illinois that every Fig. 106.) This had to be executed in tufa, among which are red cedar, juniper, witch R visible ledge is likely to have decided the conventional material of the trade, as there hazel, june-berry, bittersweet, wafer ash, and value. F. 0. Lowden, on his place near was then no Illinois quarry where suitable sumac. To their surprise the dune materials Oregon, Illinois, has some land bordering stone could be had at a fair price in a region throve wonderfully without good soil, fertil­ Rock river which makes rather tame scenery, devoid of all stone. The next step is exempli­ izers, or continual watering. Now the mem­ in spite of noble woods, until you come to a fied by Fig. 50, where the only plants used are bers of the Prairie Club are eagerly discussing bold headland about thirty feet high, the the simple rock-loving flowers of the neigh­ "dune borders" and "dune gardens," and a beauty of which is doubled by reflection in the borhood instead of those ' exquisite gems from strong sentiment has developed for buying the water. A good landscape gardener will sacrifice the alpine regions of the world which are dear dune species from nurserymen instead of rob­ a good many bu shes or trees to expose a to the hearts of all good rock-gardeners. Evi­ bing the dunes.

51-52. Scene of a Restoration of Roadside Shrubbery by Illinois Farmers, and Wild Crab Apples Suggesting the Aim "We farmers have sometimes saved trees along the roadside, but do trees "So we planted half a mile of highway in October, 1913, with crabs, haws, alone give all the beauty we ought to have as a foil to the rich but monotonous dogwoods, etc. This is the first piece of road designed and planted accordillg to farm land? Are not shrubs needed? Our neighbors think so. the 'Illinois way.' "-Harvey J. Sconce, Sidell, Vermilion county, Illinois. 'THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING IS

"Unwittingly," says a former pr~sident of thing. On their drives and walks they bring restorations made on the pralne by a large the club, "the members have hit upon the home plants and set them beside the trails, owner of farm land is near Monticello, in solution of the home-grounds question for the or gather seeds of wild flowers and sow them Piatt county. This has changed the opinion of sandy parts of Illinois and the discovery may broadcast. One of the best restorations of several influential farmers about roadside eventually save $500,000 to the citizens of Chi­ this sort made by Illinois people is described planting. Some are willing to plant trees along cago, or more than it will cost them to buy in "Our Country Home," and "Our Country the roadside, but more prefer shrubs because the dunes and keep them forever for the Life," by Frances Kinsley Hutchinson. they do less harm to crops. In the wooded parts people. About 100 kinds of these trees, shrubs, These simple nethods of restoration can be of Illinois, a mile of roadside may be planted and perennials are suitable for home grounds used by Illinois farmers, especially when the solidly with shrubs, but on the prairie, open and obtainable from nurserymen." woodlot is near the house. There may be no spaces are necessary for breezeways and to give "Millions of dollars can eventually be saved," inducement for the farm renter to make any enough sun and air to keep the road in good says one park designer, "by applying the lesson permanent improvements, but the average condition. Incidentally, these open spaces great­ of the dunes to Illinois city parks. For ex­ farm owner ought to care enough for his chil­ ly improve the prairie views, because they are ample, the park Loards commonly buy whole dren's education in nature-lore and beauty to enframed by planting. In this and other ways farms at $200 an acre or thereabouts in order fence a portion of the woodlot, and let them all the practical difficulties commonly made to skim off the top soil and move it to the restore the wild flowers that have been de­ by farmers, engineers, and officials can be Chicago parks. Some of this expense may be stroyed by cattle. Perhaps the first woodlot solved to the satisfaction of all classes of road­ necessary, because it is hard to maintain a restoration made by a real farmer from a users on at least enough of the roadside to good lawn on pm ~ sand. Much of this effort, landscape gardener's design is the one made transform it from ugliness to beauty at a cost however, is a vain attempt to maintain fer­ in 1915 at Sidell, by H . J. Sconce. See Figs. that property owners can afford. tility enough to grow foreign shrubs, and that 37, 38. The farmers near Palestine, Illinois, Perhaps the first roadside planting done in is pouring money thru a sieve of sand, for also have a design for restoring shrubs and the Illinois way is that described under Figs. the 'best sellers' of the nurseries are mostly wild flowers to a piece of woodland in their 51, 52. Another leader is Spencer Otis, who of the swamp type, i. e., they have been country park. Henry Ford is making a wood­ has planted trees and shrubs on a mile near adapted by nature to moist soil and cannot land restoration of over 300 acres at Dearborn, Barrington. Both cases are pure restorations, make long tap-roots like the drought-resisting Michigan. Eighty acres have already been made by men who farm at a profit, in the open species. To grow swamp plants in sand is to thickly planted with trees and shrubs large country, on rich corn land; and they are fight nature; to grow dune plants in sand is enough to give in one year the effect of a for­ not on private drives, but on public roads. to harness nature. The highest type of beauty est thirty years old. The possibilities of roadside planting are Chicago parks can ever have, in my opinion, The city lot owner can, perhaps, ask his park enormous, for about two and one-half per­ is a dune restoration. Instead of leveling board for a small woodland restoration, or cent of the state's area is in roads, and if they the sandhills and filllng the valleys, why not vote for "outer park belts," and can apply the are all planted, Illinois may have the largest run the drives thru the valleys, and plant principle to his home grounds by making a state park system in the world-larger than the hills with sand-loving trees? Some day "woodland border" in the shady corner. the whole state of Rhode I sland-without the we shall have a Dune Park that will give cost of buying the land. Illinois international fame. Restoration of Roadside Beauty Home gardeners who have little space and OST of the planting along the public WE WILL money may apply the lesson of the dunes by M roads of Illinois has been done by sub­ planting some of the sand-loving materials urbanites or country gentlemen. In the D Help our community to re-create in park, enumerated on page 26, under Dry Soil. wooded region north of Chicago it is not playground, cemetery, or roadside, one or unusual to see shrubbery planted almost more of these eight scenic units. Restoration of the Woods continuously III the T HE following tale is perhaps one of the parkings, or spaces forty root-stories from which, according between sidewalk and to Mark Twain, all jokes can be derived. A curb, especially in newly rich Chicagoan bought and built on the Winnetka and High­ land Park, where all " orth Shore" because of a piece of woods styles may be easily which he considered beautiful. "Why don't compared. Some of you get a landscape gardener?" his neighbors this has been inspired asked. "I will as soon as I clean up a little," by Wildwood avenue he replied. So he cut out the shrubbery, and in Graceland Ceme­ the landscape gardener made him put it all tery. See Fig. 54. back at a cost of $2,000. He bought the same The pure spirit of species from nurserymen and had to wait four restoration appears in or five years before he got as good an effect Lake Forest, where as the one he had destroyed. Every town in E . L. Ryerson has Illinois that has a wooded park generally has planted haws, crabs, some variant of this story, because it is the and plums, while on regular thing for newly elected park boards the prairie J. M. Cud­ to clean out the buck-brush, and then hire an ahy has planted the expert who opens their eyes to the beauty of same materials with buck-brush and makes them plant it. red oak, hard maple, The first thing the landscape gardener makes an undergrowth of the millionaire do to the old cow pasture is to common hazel, and fringe it with wild bushes, "so as to restore such familiar prairie privacy and charm," as the expert says. (What flowers as brown­ he means is that woods do not amount to eyed susan, butterfly much if you can see right thru them; they weed, Aster laevis are more interesting and beautiful if some­ (the best blue aster), thing is left to the imagination.) The next and the "Philadel­ step is to restore the wild flowers, and the phia lily." whole family soon catches the spirit of the One of the first

53. Should Every Mile of Illinois Road be like This? 54. Or would you Like some of This Occasionally? Some farmers believe that bare roads, decorated only with poles, wires, fences, Some farmers can see beauty in ordinary "brush," even when the bushes and weeds have a depressing or deadening influence upon their families. are not in flower, and are willing to have trees along the roadside, trusting that the birds will keep the insects in check. (Wildwood avenue, Graceland Ceme­ tery.) All trees and shrubs planted here are native. 16 THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

55-56. Before and after Restoring the Prairie Feeling to a Park; the Broad View Conventionalized "Here was a case of too much useless water and no chance for exercise. "So we developed those for lise and beamy, and changed this to a ball field. This shallow lake in Douglas Park had been made for show, and could not be Vve tried to restore the broad prairie view. It is conventionalized, for long grass used for canoeing or bathing. The neighborhood was densely settled and there would spoil a ball field. But we planted thousands of stratified Illinois shrubs. was no place to play ball. Fortunately, there were two better lakes near by." Anyone who skirts the field can get a suggestion of the prairie."-Jens Jensen.

VI-Can the Prairie be Restored?

EFORE we can do any constructive think­ loneliness, and beauty of the wild prame, but vVanted-a Prairie Park B ing about prairie scenery, we must define they rarely say a kind word for the beauty of "SOME day," says one far-seeing citizen, "prairie." By this we mean land that was cultivated prairie. And, apparently, it never "every middle-western state will make treeless when the white man came to Illinois. occurs to them that any restoration of wild one prairie reservation before it is too late or It may be wild or cultivated, flat or rolling. prairie is possible. The one overwhelming im­ re-create one wild prairie for the people The first big fact to notice is that the sen­ pression that all travelers got from the wild to enjoy forever. It would take less land than timental appeal of the wild prairie is vastly prairie was the infi nite extent of it. Nowadays is popularly supposed. For the main purpose greater than that of the cultivated prairie. A people do not see how the idea of infinity can is to get out of sight of trees and away from popular notion about the prairie is that its be brought home with the old-time power every suggestion of man's work. This can wonder and beauty have gone forever, and without the use of a tract of land so large that perhaps be done on 1,000 acres, if the land that there is nothing to do but mourn about it. no individual can afford to pay taxes on it and rolls enough. A dozen parties could then be Historians, travelers, novelists, poets, and let it lie idle. To re-create a big, wild prairie in as many different valleys, yet each could musicians have tried to express the grandeur, is a state-park proposition. enj oy without interruption for short periods

57. The Broad View of the Prairie, Framed by Stratified Honey Locust For constructive purposes all prairie scenery may be reduced to two units-the broad view and the long view. The broad view is the one that suggests in. finite extent, and is the more inspiring for occasional visits. See Fig. 58. ______T--=-:..:.H=-=E=---P=----::R~~=__=A=..:IR=_=_=_=IE=_--'__=.S=_P_=_=I R=_=_=__:I'T=__.=....:IN~_=L:..:...A:2::.N....:....:D::::....::::.S~C.::....::A:..::::.P__=::E~G~A~R~D~E~N~IN~G______~ the apparent infinity of green grass and blue 'b est sellers,' sky which impressed the pioneers as power­ seems a kalei­ fully as the ocean. For contrast, the big open doscope o r space could be skirted by the other great ele­ c r a z y quilt. ment of Illinois scenery-the irregular border Stand off and of woodland, which originally defined the typi­ view the ordi­ cal Illinois prairie, with its pleasant suggestion nary border of of a river hidden within the forest. Such a shrubs, and you prairie park seems necessary to "recharge the will see how batteries" of those who do the world's work. poor a job it The millions who toil jn great cities ordinarily makes of unit­ have but two weeks' vacation. Several states ing lawn and now provide a chance to camp in the wilds at woods. It the least expense. Possibly prairie schooners needs small trees to bind together could be used. The educational value of the forest and meadow. The bold leap park would be increased by combining with that nature often makes from lt an arboretum or botanical garden large haws and crabs down to the prairie enough to teach the people the names of the flowers reminds me of some power­ most interesting trees and wild flowers which ful and beautiful animal, slipping they find in the adj acent woodland and prairie. silently from forest shade into a I believe this dream can be realized at a cost sea of grasses. Therefore, in my which many a private citizen can afford as a new prairie gardens I make no transi­ gift to the people. Universities and libraries tion between small trees and lawn, are doubtless more important to humanity, but except that I have extra-wide, irreg­ a prairie park might touch a very responsive ular colonies of phlox, using the wild chord in the popular heart and ought to win phlox, or a variety with flattish the everlasting gratitude of mankind." clusters, like Rynstrom." Those who find the preceding para­ graph too poetic may at least have Miniature Prairies a practical border of prairie flowers CA a bit of wild prairie be restored for the -say 3x25 feet, choosing from Nos. sake of beauty, even if it lacks the sugges­ 1 to 21, and 88 to 106, on page 24. tion of infinity? Certainly. Occasionally, one Every Illinois city should have in at hears of some old settler who, in some waste least one park a "prairie border"­ corner of the farm, saved a bit of prairie sod with the grasses, composites. and to remind him of old times. Or a plainsman, other flowers labeled. It will not be like Bishop Quayle's father, willed that his like the prairie, but it will serve 58. The Long V iew of the Prairie to teach the rising generation about The long, narrow glimpses are more human and intimate last resting place should be beneath a strip of t han the broad views, like Fig. 57. The small picture above Buffalo grass, and enjoined his son to see that the famous prairie flowers of which and to the left is framed by cottonwood. the wild grass is never run out by the domesti­ they read in novels and histories. cated. One may respect such sentiments, but the results can hardly be called beautiful. The Scenic Value of Cultivated Prairie Restoring the Broad View The beauty of the wild prairie can be restored in an impressive way to one park in every Illi­ S O much for the wild prairie and its restora- OR constructive purposes all prairie scen­ nois city by means of a "miniature prairie" of tion. As to cultivated prairie, trav- F ery may here be reduced to two units, the kind described by William Trelease. elers generally admit that the feeling of the broad view and the long view. See Figs. infinity can still be had from the high 57, 58. The broad view is the one that sug­ "I wish a plan for a ten-acre prairie restora­ gests infinity and power, and is the more in- tion, surrounded by trees and shrubbery, in the spots, and they also admit that a sea of corn borders of which perennial flowers may be is beautiful. Easterners com­ monly acknowledge that rolling grown in beds for botanical students. The prairie is full of inspiration, but center is to be thickly planted with blue­ they usually say that flat prairie is stem and other wild grasses, amid which the not attractive. Foreign eyes are not characteristic prairie flowers, like sunflowers, educated to see the slight undula­ gaillardia, compass plant, and blazing star, are tions in "flat" prairie that give so to fight for existence. How long it will take much quiet enjoyment every day to to restore anything like the thick sod of the those who live on the land. l\1any wild prairie, no one knows. But in two or plain farmers feel this beauty so three years there should be a strong suggestion deeply that they do not like to talk of prairie wildness, because the flowers will about it, but is repression the best seem to float on a sea of grasses. This effect attitude? Can we take any honest can hardly be produced in the ordinary hardy pride in prairie beauty if we never border, but it seems practical in any city park spend an hour or a dollar to save that can afford from two to five acres or more any of it? Is it not better to dis­ for such a feature." cuss and practice restoration? Whether the prairie is a higher P rairie Gardens and Prairie Borders order of beauty than that of moun­ LLINOISAN"S are now experimenting with tainous country we leave to popu­ I "prairie gardens" of many kinds. The lar disputation. Those who have most promising type is a protest against the been reared amid one type often feel conventional shrubbery border which has be­ uneasy in the other. But it is not come effeminate thru over-refinement. In safe to tell an Illinois man that order to carry the eye easily from trees to flat land is unattractive and has no lawn and vice versa, the gardener often makes possibility of making one of the many gradations. First, he puts a row of tall most beautiful regions of the world. shrubs, next a row of medium bushes, then One resident of Lake Forest is re­ low shrubs, and finally a continuous edging of ported to have said, "The beauty perennial flowers, which may be similarly of ordinary, flat, cultivated prairie graduated. In seeking f or a more virile kind of border the leader of the prairie school is so dear to me that I was one of went for inspiration to the place where wood the first to turn away from the and prairie meet. "There," he says, "I found more obvious beauty of Lake Mich­ the strongest and most satisfactory border igan and the w ooded ravines to that nature has ever given man, so far as my build on the prairie, where I run observations go. The full-grown border of a farm that aims to make money. haws and crabs has been likened by some to To unsympathetic eastern eyes our 59. Long View of Prairie Conventionalized mosaic, by others to lace work, while some prairie view may look tame and new, "Instead of putting a single row of trees down the center of this parking," says the designer, "I left the center open and declare it is a tone poem. By comparison the but we would rather have it, even put nativ.e shrubbery at the sides to suggest the long view of conventional shrubbery border, full of gaudy if we must wait for the trees." the prairie or the farm lane at its best." See page 18. ~

18 THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

spmng for occasional visits; the long view to control the high place. Sometimes he may conventionalized ? "Yes," says one Illinois is more human and intimate, and often more build on it, sometimes locate a drive along the landscape gardener, "I deliberately aimed at satisfactory to live with. top of a ridge, sometimes put a seat at the this on Logan boulevard, Chicago, along the One of the first attempts to restore the best spot. Often he can enframe the best view half-mile between Milwaukee and California broad view is the playground in Garfield Park. by pairs of trees in front of the house, beside avenues, and also on Humboldt boulevard. See See Figs. 55, 56. Another may be summarized the dining room, or along the road, as has Fig. 59. Formerly gardeners used to put a as follows: "I have a ten-acre pasture on been done near Sidell and Barrington. line of tall trees at uniform distances thru which I am trying to restore as much of the the middle of a parkway, or scatter shrubs wild-prairie beauty as the average farmer can for show. Nowadays, to prevent holdups and Restoring the Long View disorderly conduct, it is necessary to keep afford-and no more, for I am much opposed B Y "long view" is meant the narrow open­ to display. I am not prepared to advocate the center open, light it, and avoid all places ing between farmsteads and woodlots which of concealment, such as pockets of shrubbery. surrounding every field with a solid border often extends for several miles. See Fig. 58. of shrubbery, altho some authorities believe These condi.tions give a fine chance to con­ It does not need to go off to infinity. Indeed, ventionalize the long view of the prairie by that such borders will keep down insects by many persons prefer to have it stopped by a attracting birds. But I do believe that the planting at either side of the parking haws, hazy ridge or misty piece of woods. They crabs, and gray dogwood, which becomes strat­ average Illinois farmer can enrich his family believe that a fi nite view is easier to under­ life greatly by bordering one fie ld near the ified when old. Of course, in all conventional stand and love than an infi nite one. The long work, Nature's original suggestion must be house with native shrubs. The financial loss view is the home-like and friendly side of is more than offset by the pleasure of seeing hidden from the crowd, or it will be misunder­ the prairie. Farmers have noticed the long stood and ridiculed. But the discerning few the flowers, berries, and birds, and above all view less, but when their attention is called by the chance to idealize his broad view. For who look down the center of the parking will to it they are often quick to see its practical feel the long view of the prairie." example, we built in the open because we pre­ advantages. For a person can often frame a fer farm life to lake and woods, but the ordi­ long view from a home window at less cost Methods of Restoration nary broad view on Illinois farms is certainly and in less time than a broad view. commonplace for a good part of the year. To o methods absolutely new to the art of idealize it we ·have planted several elms near One of the most inspiring long views in N landscape gardening are practiced by re­ the door to enframe the prairie, and one big one America was made by Mr. Simonds in Grace­ storers, but in the most elaborate restorations, near the middle of the pasture to suggest the land Cemetery. See Fig. 60. The famous f our sciences are pursued farther than u sual solitary giants that occasionally enlivened the English authority, William Robinson, greatly along the lines indicated below. Some investi­ wild prairie. At the edge of the pasture are admired this vista. It lies within a city of gation is necessary or the product cannot be planted some hard maples and other trees to two million inhabitants, yet it occupies only called a restoration. remind us of the distant woodlands which about 10x400 feet, or say one-tenth of an acre. 1. Systematic botany. The first step is to formerly bounded the typical prairie view in One critic has called Fig. 60 "the straight way make a botanical survey, or li st of all plant Illinois. The shrubbery surrounding the pas­ to the great hope," because it points to N a­ materials now growing wild on the property, ture consists of common wild crabs, plums, ture's annual resurrection as a seeming prom­ or at least the most important ones. Since haws, sumac, hazel, sheepberry, chokecherry, ise of the resurrection of the soul. The next some desirable species are missing, the next witch hazel, smooth rose, etc., which will ideal­ picture (Fig. 61) he calls "the straight way step is to consult a county flora to find whether ize the flat prairie by restoring some of to bad taste," because it shows one of the many they grew in the vicinity originally and the wild beauty. For this reason I would ways in which fine artworks are desecrated by whether they were common and characteristic much rather have these native shrubs than a display of wealth. Can we not have in or rare and untypical. Unfortunately there miles of Japanese barberry hedges, or the every Illinois community one cemetery of the is no state flora, but see page 27. showier beauty of foreign spireas, hydran­ highest type? 2. State and local history. The main types geas, and crimson ramblers, which seem to The farmer has a fine chance to idealize the of scenery in nearly all parts of the state have me quite out of harmony with Illinois farm long view. "I never frame a long prairie view been described at length by travelers or pioneers. For samples see page 27. The scenery." with spectacular trees, like Lombardy poplar, What else can the farmer do with a broad county courthouse should be searched for the as the eastern men do," says an Illinois land­ oldest records, especially the original survey, view? Luckily he does not have to own all the scape gardener. Even red cedars do not look land and keep it idle. The important thing is which sometimes names and locates the fi nest right on the Illinois farm. Nature left the trees that served as landmarks. exclamation point out of the prairie 3. Ecology. This is a new and fascinating scenery. The kind of accent she branch of botany that deals with plant so­ made f or the prairie is not vertical, cieties. It gives combinations of plants that but horizontal. Let the farmer frame are far more effective in restorations than any his long view with a pair of vase­ which can be invented by man, because Nature formed elms or cottonwoods." See has evolved them by ages of experiment. As Fig. 58. an introduction to this science, see books listed In the city the long view of the on page 27. prairie can be symbolized. For ex­ 4. Ornithology. Restoration of the birds ample, Graceland Cemetery was not should be an organic part of every scheme for consciously modeled on the prairie, reproducing Illinois scenery or vegetation. but Fig. 60 suggests how it can The means of attracting birds are described in be done in a park or cemetery on an immense number of bulletins and catalogs. 4,000 square feet. A letter to the U. S. Department of Agricul­ Has the long prairie view been ture or to the National Association of Audu­ bon Societies, 1974 Broad­ way, New York, will put one in touch. WE WILL o Restore some feeling of the prairie to our home grounds by hav­ ing an open, central lawn flanked by some stratified bushes and prairie wild flowers. o Have a prairie garden, miniature prairie, or prairie border. o Help Illinois create a prairie park as de­ scribed on pages 16, 17. o Ask our park board to frame a prairie view, like Figs. 57 to 59. 60. "The Straight Way to the Great Hope" 61. "The Straight Way to Bad Taste" o Help our community This vista has been so called because it joints to Nature's Desecration of an artwork by display of wealth. Can we annual resurrection as a seeming protnise 0 the resurrection not have one landscape cemetery with high ideals in every Illi­ secure or restore a bit of the soul. See under "Restoring the Long View." nois community? See above. of wild prairie. T1-1E PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

62. Repetition of the Prairie Line on a Golf Green by Cutting Out Border Trees Less Valuable Than Haws The golf club at Winnetka tired of hard, straight lines thru the woods, so they employed Mr. Simonds to secure more natural vistas. 'VII-Everyone Can Apply the Principle of Repetition HOW THE "PRAIRIE SPIRIT" HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE DAILY LIVES OF RICH AND POOR, IN CITY, SUBURBS, AND COUNTRY, IN ALL PARTS OF THE PRAIRIE STATE

A NYONE can discover the magical part most the inspirational value of these high rounded tops; that the corn crop is level, as played by repetition in the Illinois land­ places? If not, we are lucky when our memory well as the ground; and if there be a lake or scape simply by walking or driving to the near­ is jogged by some traveler who says he has river, that, too, is level. If the prairie looks est high spot that commands a broad view of come 5,000 miles just to see the prairie; that its best there will be fleecy clouds in the sky, the prairie. How eagerly does the stranger Europe has nothing like it; and that the sailing toward the horizon like fleets of flat­ look forward to his first glimpse of the prairie prairie is the most characteristic scenery on bottomed ships. Then it gradually dawns upon and what an unforgetable experience it is ! the American continent. But, however we you that the essence of the prairie's beauty The first thing that strikes everyone is the Illinoisans may differ in our appreciation of lies in all these horizontal lines, no two of bigness of it, for it seems infinite, as the ocean scenery, we generally agree that the greatest which are of the same length or at the same does. But as your glance instinctively fol­ prairie view is the one that enables you to elevation, but all of which repeat in soft and lows the gentle, wave-like roll of the land, it follow the line of the horizon "clear round gentle ways the great story of the horizon. comes to the place where land and sky meet the world." Thus, you have learned straight from nature and there it stops. See Fig. 57. The prairie After discovering the overwhelming im­ the great law of r epetition, the importance of horizon has been called "the strongest line portance of the horizontal line comes the sec­ which can be quickly verified when you get in the western hemisphere." You may try to ond revelation. You notice an absence of back to your library. For Ruskin, in his "Ele­ look at something else, but your eyes will keep spectacular forms; there are no steep hills, ments of Drawing," explains that repetition is coming back to the horizon until you follow pointed rocks, or spiry trees; all vertical lines one of the nine laws of composition that are it around the circle. No wider view is pos­ are obscured. At first you are a little dis­ fundamental to all the fine arts. After describ­ sible on earth, when you can see all the appointed, because you are u sed to picturesque ing the law of principality (by which he means land-circle and half of the sky-circle simply or romantic scenery, and here is something making one feature more important than all by turning on your heel. To get an expe­ very different. Then your curiosity is aroused the rest), he says, "Another important means rience like this people often climb high moun­ as to what can be the secret of the prairie's of expressing unity is to mark some kind of tains, sometimes with danger, always with beauty. For the prairie is obviously beautiful, sympathy among the different objects, and difficulty and expense. But the Illinois farmer but its beauty is hard to define. You begin to perhaps the pleasantest, because most surpris­ can get his broad view with little effort and study the main features of the scenery and ing, kind of sympathy is when one group imi­ no expense, simply by mounting a land-wave find that there are usually five-land, sky, tates or repeats another; not in the way of twelve or fifteen feet high. Do we Illinoisans woods, crops, and water. Next you notice that balance or symmetry, but subordinately, like a appreciate our privi~eges and enjoy to the ut­ the distant woodlands have level or gently faraway and broken echo of it."

63-64. Before and after Repeating the Prairie on the Parking of a City Street "The people of Highland Park planted about $700 worth of Illinois shrubs in public places in 1914. OUf environment is .woodland and therefore many of us believe in planting the parkings in order to intensify the sylvan charm of the town and connect all Pf,ivate places wit~ the to~n Ideal. But w~JOd.1and beauty needs a - foil, so we have some open spaces and many haws and crabs to suggest the great prairie beyond us. -Everett L. MIllard, HIghland Park, Ilhnols. 20 THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT' IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING------

-,

65. Repetition of Horizon and Whitecaps by Elders 66. Repetition of Prairie by Stratified Haws in Summer The horizon is. perhaps, the strongest line in the prairie states. It can be Hawthorns are still abundant along many roads in Illinois and are much beautifully repeated on the prairie or beside the lake by planting trees and shrubs admired for their deep, mysterious shadows, their fl at flower clusters, red fruits, wIth h01-izontal hranches or flower c1uskrs. For E. L . Millard's explanation, autumn colors, and the stratified branching of some species, which is most obvious see page 12, column 2. in winter. They help to restore the song birds.

How far nature has carried the principle of 23. It means that no two places in Illinois the drama. Every book you pick up seems to repetition in Illinois you can easily discover on need look just alike, for everyone can make have some bearing on it, and if you are your next long drive to the country, unless a different combination of the stratified ma­ tempted to exaggerate its importance Ruskin you are so unfortunate as to live in one of terials enumerated on page 24. It means that restores your perspective by telling the other those sections where nearly all native vegeta­ all places can be part of one great scheme to laws of composition, viz., principality, con­ tion has been swept away by men whose souls make Illinois beautiful. It means that we tinuity, curvature, radiation, contrast, inter­ have not yet been opened to the refining influ­ Illinoisans need try no longer to imitate the change, consistency, and harmony. All these ences of beauty. In the latter case you may East, which can always excel us in evergreens, laws are merely devices for securing unity, and get some light by analyzing the list of mate­ especially rhododendrons and mountain laurel. the supreme pleasure connected with repetition rials on pages 24, 25. Of the 2'00 species of For we have discovered a type of beauty in comes when we ask, "What is the unity that Illinois mate·rials listed, eighty-seven are strati­ which the prairie states naturally excel. By underlies prairie scenery?" fied in branch or flower. This is about forty­ working out the principle of repetition in all When you stand upon a high place over­ three percent, or, say, two-fifths of the native sorts of ways we can restore and intensify a looking the prairie, what seems to you its species that are in cultivation. type of beauty which mountainous, hilly, and deepest meaning? Some say the dominant Has your discovery any practical value to arid regions cannot duplicate. note is peacefulness-that this middle-western every Illinois citizen? Certainly, provided The full beauty of your discovery comes country will never be invaded by a foreign refining influences of any kind are worth while. only when you have committed yourself to it foe, and the landscape expresses this sense Of course, if life is only for dollars, we should by planting on your home grounds a consider­ of security. Others declare that it is an ex­ steel our hearts against any softening influ­ able quantity of stratified material. Then every pression of God's bounty. The horizon is but ences. But if we believe in home and chil­ day brings some fresh revelation of the law a symbol of a religious idea which each per­ dren and the higher life, it will be an im­ of repetition. You see it in every house and son may express in his own way, just as every­ mense help to have beautiful home grounds. statue that you admire, and hear it in every one may make his own interpretation of a Your discovery means that you can reproduce piece of music. You begin to search for the piece of music. Every great style in art, it some of the effects illustrated on pages 19 to subtler forms of it in poetry, painting, and is said, is based upon some religious idea. The

67. Horizontal Branches of Swamp White Oak 68. Repetition of Water Line by Tupelo 69, At Wood-Edges Nature Suggests Prairie This circular bed of foreign flowers may be allow­ The tupelo or pepperidge is famed for its early "I would have planted composite flowers here able in this case, but it belongs to the gardenesque red autumn color, and is even more valued for its to repeat the prairie, but nature restores them abun­ style. The prairie spirit suggests American bluebells stratification, which is probably the strongest among dantly in the form of brown-eyed susans and asters." or Canada lily fringing the shrubbery. (Graceland.) deciduous tl·ees. (Graceland.) -A resident of Ravinia, Illinois. THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING 2I

70. A Subtle Case of Repetition-American Hornbeam 71. Some Repeat the Horizontal Only When in Flower This small tree has slender branches, which are conspicuously horizontal Above is a thorn (Crataegus mollis) which does not have horizontal branches. only in winter, especially aftarch than the wild prairie, but it is pleasanter to Granting that repetition is an important repeats in outline, while both forms can be live with, and it may become one of the most principle, can it not be overdone or poorly reduced to a single line, the vertical. This line beautiful regions in the world if we take done? Certainly. It is conceivable that some is repeated by the spiry evergreen trees of on a missionary zeal for building houses and sentimentalist might plant only stratified ma­ Europe. The ascending line characterizes the gardens that repeat the prairie line. For terial and make a mess of it, but there are Chinese temple, and is repeated by many of repetition translates the fearful Infinite into too many other attractive plants to make this the Chinese evergreens. The horizontal line the friendly finite. Our stratified materials a serious matter. A joke may stand only one characterizes the prairie style of architecture break up the horizon into bits that we can repetition, but the prairie's story will bear re­ and landscape gardening, and this line is re­ grasp and understand. They will enable Illi­ telling many times. And the stratified mate­ peated by stratified hawthorns and crab apples. nois to idealize the scenery of an entire state. rials of Illinois are never loud or coarse story­ The necessity of softening a dominant line So, every Illinois citizen, no matter what his tellers. The danger of overplanting them is by repetition is illustrated by the awe-inspiring religion, can express the modern, intimate, and practically nothing compared with the uni­ loneliness of the wild prairie. Pioneers and joyful relation with the Infinite by planting versal tendency to overdo the formal and travelers were at times afraid to be alone with some stratified trees or bushes that symbolize gardenesque styles. Nature often suggests such an infi nite thing, as their records testify. the great horizon which in turn is but a symbol symmetry, but never pushes it to the extreme Perhaps the frankest utterance of the old at­ of the great reality that underlies all religions. of a formal garden, in which everything is t;tude occurs in a French traveler's account Symbolism always has been and ever will be balanced. The prairie furnishes haws and of the Russian steppes. Speaking of the eternal natural and necessary to mankind. ,We need crabs to accentuate her idea, but they are mod­ sameness among the people, in dress, speech, something to express the infinite peace, plenty, erate and peaceful compared with the garden­ and houses, he attempts to explain their and happiness of the prairie country. What esque style, which kills peace in home grounds melancholy by the endless breadth of the land, better symbol can we have on the lawn than because it is all accent and that of the flashiest and ends by exclaiming, "It is impossible to the stratified hawthorn, loaded in the spring kind, like cannas and coleus. Put your trust live with the Infinite and be happy." Is there with flowers and in the autumn fi lled with bril­ in the prairie. The danger of overdoing her any minister today who would agree to such liant red fruits on which the birds feast? In the type of beauty is remote. an assertion, especially the author of "The flower garden the first aim, of course, is Great Companion?" Does not every religion flowers or color, but there may be a deeper, WE WILL today emphasize love of the Infinite, rather hidden meaning also. Gaillardias may stand than fear? And is not the prairie less fear­ for the prairie spirit and larkspurs for the o Repeat the strongest line in the prairie ful and more lovable since its sea of hissing Gothic. The aspiring and the stratified states by planting some of the stratified ma­ grasses has changed to fields of corn? The flowers may be regarded as religious symbols. terials enumerated on page 24.

72. The Prairie Spirit in the Shady Corner 73. The Prairie Spirit in the Sunny Garden The most beautiful repeatt:r of the prairie among woodland flowers is wild The first aim in a flower garden or hardy border is flowers and color, but blue phlox (Phlox divaricata), here planted under shrubs at Graceland. there may also be a deeper, hid'den meaning, as explained above. 22 THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

74-75. The First Principle in Adapting the Prairie Style is to Intensify each Peculiar Type of Scenery Looking down from this bridge the ravine seems very deep, when measured Among the strongest features of woodland are the arbors of wild grape. by this wild grape, which has climbed from the bottom up a tall tree. E. L. They furnish shade, protection from rain, food for the birds, and beauty. The Millard, Highland Park, Illinois. vines are rampant and often need restraint. Glencoe, Illinois. VIII-Adapting the Prairie Style to Other Kinds of Scenery HOW TO INTENSIFY THE PECULIAR BEAUTY OF EACH TYPE AND HOW TO BLEND ALL IN ONE GREAT .SCHEME FOR BEAUTIFYING ILLINOIS T HOSE Illinoisans who live amid scenery adaptation one degree farther by planting near est development on the flood plain, namely, that is different from the prairie will the house those shrubs that are so dependent American elm, buttonball, cottonwood, ash, naturally ask, "Is the prairie style only for upon woodland shade that they rarely thrive walnut, butternut, tulip tree, hackberry, coffee the prairie, or can it be adapted to our con­ without it, for example, red elder, maple-leaved tree, mulberry, redbud, and buckeye. Other ditions ?" The answer is that it has already arrow-wood, and round-leaved dogwood. We plants that intensify the feeling of nearness been adapted to all types of Illinois scenery now perceive that in woodland, and in all to a river are the riverbank grape, wild goose­ and by methods that can be easily illustrated. other kinds of Illinois scenery, adaptation con­ berry, American bluebell, wild blue phlox, For example, consider the wooded parts of sists largely in intensifying the peculiarities western adder's tongue (Erythronium al­ Illinois, which comprise about fifteen to eight­ of each scenic type. bidum), Jacob's ladder, and Collinsia verna. een percent of the state's area, and are very If you live on drained land that was for­ attractive to home-builders. Do you think the How to Intensify Each Scenic Type merly a swamp or bog, you may be able to "prairie house" shown in Fig. 76 fits the wood­ F you build on the lake bluffs you will grow some of the finest products of that scenic land? Evidently the architect did not try I naturaily plant red cedar, Canadian juni­ type, namely, the bur, scarlet, and swamp white to make his house as conspicuous as possible per, white pine, red oak, gray poplar, hop oaks, red maple, arborvitae, American larch, -quite the opposite-for he has put the house hornbeam, Buffalo berry, red-twigged dog­ Nyssa sylvatica (Fig. 68), winterberry, red not outside the woods but inside, and taken wood, Aster laevis, and wild grape. (Fig. 74.) and black chokeberry, flowering currant, but­ great pains to save the trees closest the If your garden is a ravine you will naturally tonbush, wint :rgreen, Rubus hispidus, cinna­ house. For the same reason he has made the plant the great specialties of the ravines, mon fern, royal fern, and marsh marigold. house long and loy, instead of tall and nar­ namely, American linden, sugar maple, witch If you live on a sandhill or dune, you can row. Also he has used more wood and less hazel, hepatica, bloodroot, meadow rue, tril­ make it a beauty spot instead of a desert by stucco than for a house in the open. Finally lium, and wild grape. See Fig. 75. planting the white pines (Fig. 77), gray pine, he has stained the siding brown and the roof If you are so fortunate as to own a bit red cedar, bur oak, frost grape (Vitis cordi­ green to harmonize with tree trunks and fol­ of river bottom, you will naturally plant more folia), chokecherry, and sand cherry. iage. The landscape gardener <:an carry the of the wonderful trees that reach their great­ If you live on a clay hill you may have

76. How "Prairie Architecture" has been Adapted to Woodland 77. White Pine is Adapted ·to Dunes, Bluffs, and Rocks House put inside the woods-not outside; trees nearest house carefully It also connects these types with the prairie by repeating the horizon. Longer. saved; house made long and low; woodwork painted brown like tree trunks, and lived than the Scotch or Austrian pine, and looks more at home about the farm­ roof green, like foliage. Needs shrubbery at foundation to connect house, woods, stead or at edge of woodlot. Must have drainage. Thrives better on rolling and prairie. (Frank Lloyd Wright, architect.) prairie than on fiat land. THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING 23

78-79. The Second Principle in Adapting the Prairie Style-Connect the Other Types of Scenery with the Prairie June-berry, when old, becomes stratified, thus giving the sug- The rounded tops of haws repeat the rolling land, while the species with stratified branches gestion of prairie which nature has put into the heart of every type suggest the level prairie. "The haws are the most significant feature in our landscape."-Mrs. of Illinois scenery. Lew Wallace, Gale Farm, Galesburg, Illinois.

the good fortune to preserve the original white be used to connect woods and prairie are boring plain. Indeed, there are enough strati­ and red oak, shell-bark hickory, sugar maple, maple-leaved arrow-wood, witch hazel, and fied materials in the mountains to give the and even the beech. If the undergrowth has wild blue phlox. The two last named will hint. But in no type of scenery that differs been destroyed, the proper companions for the grow in full sun as well as shade. from the prairie should people plant more above are the dotted and scarlet haws, hazel, One of the most delightful themes for a stratified than unstratified materials. The viburnums, yellow violet, and wood anemone. walk in the country is _to discover how far law of principality requires that one thing If you live on a rocky hill you may ac­ nature has worked out this law of inter­ shall be dominant, and on the prairie strati­ centuate its original picturesqueness by plant­ change. At the edge of every minor type of fied plants should probably be more in evi­ ing the dwarf rose (Rosa humilis), ninebark, scenery she has generally interwoven some dence than anywhere else in the world. The chokeberry, staghorn sumac, and wafer ash. plants that suggest the dominant type of law of contrast shows how the true char­ If you own a bit of pond you can make a Illinois scenery-the prairie. She has even acter of a dominant idea can be brought out water garden containing water lily and per­ carried the prairie spirit into the heart of by contrast, provided the opposing idea is haps American lotus, wild rice, pickerel weed, the most contrasting scenery by means of subservient. Therefore, on the prairie it is arrowhead, bur reed, and cat-tail. stratified plants. For example, at the edge right to plant a few reminders of the woods It will be hard for man to improve on the of a clearing, nature restores the brown­ and waterside. Conversely, if you live amid above combinations, for they have been adapted eyed susans and other composite flowers, as different scenery from the prairie, emphasize to these scenic units thru ages of experi­ explained under Fig. 69, while in the inmost that difference all you can, but do not forget mentation by nature. All of them are gen­ recesses of the woods she expresses the to have some suggestion of the prairie also. uine Illinois examples and are reported by prairie spirit by red elder, maidenhair fern, Is there any other way by which all types Henry C. Cowles in "The Plant Societies of meadow rue, wild spikenard (Aralia race­ of Illinois scenery and all home grounds can Chicago and Vicinity." mosa), wood aster, and wild blue phlox (Fig. be blended in one great scheme for beautify­ Now, if the essence of adaptation in land­ 72) . At Starved Rock her crowning feature ing the state? Obviously, we could plant our scape gardening is intensification of the native is the dramatic group of white pines, thru state tree, which is simply called the "native flora instead of importing foreign beauty, it is whose stratified branches she shows you the oak." (The "Act in Relation to a State Tree obvious that the most important methods must stratified rock, while both features grandly and a State Flower," approved February 21, be conservation and restoration. But these echo the noble valley of the Illinois and the 1908, appears as Chapter 57A, Sec. 16, on page are about two-thirds of the prairie style. distant prairie. At the dunes near Chicago 1320 of Hurd's Revised Statutes of 1913.) Therefore, the prairie style can, to this extent she brings another type of wild beauty to Weare richer in oaks than in any other at least, be adapted to all parts of Illinois. In the climax shown in Fig. 77, where white kind of trees, since we have eighteen species, fact, it has been, as sho~n by Figs. 41 to 48. pine repeats the strongest line in the Mid­ but the most characteristic of all is the bur dle ,West. At the waterside she will teach or mossy-cup oak, which is as rugged in How to Blend All Types of Scenery you the prairie spirit thru tupelo (Fig. 68), appearance as Lincoln. It should be planted UT this is not all of the story, for if swamp white oak (Fig. 67), red-twigged dog­ in every part of Illinois where it is likely B each scenic type were emphasized to the wood, blue ash, and in favored localities, to thrive. Unfortunately the state flower will utmost and nothing done to connect one type thru red maple and red elder. In the not help us much, for by "prairie violet" with another, the contrasts would be too exclusive precincts of the ravines she will people commonly mean the large-flowered, strong. Now comes to. ou~ assista!lce the gently suggest the democracy of the prairie long-stemmed Viola cucullata, which is not law of interchange, whIch IS explamed by thru witch hazel, round-leaved dogwood, mea­ peculiar to the prairie, being common in the Ruskin as follows: "Closely connected with dow rue, spikenard, sarsaparilla, maidenhair, woods and in the East. Moreover, this violet the law of contrast is a law which enforces Aster laevis, and even by the june-berry, which is disappointing in cultivation, making its the unity of opposite things, by giving to each becomes stratified when old, as shown in Fig. response to rich soil by producing more leaves a portion of the character of the other. * * * 78. But on the aristocratic bluffs poor Nature than flowers. Of all the plants popularly The typical purpose of the law of ir:terchange may be forced to trepan the obstinate skull named after the prairie, the prairie rose is is of course to teach us how OPPOSIte natures and insert the prairie idea thru white pine the most satisfactory for general cultivation rday be helped and strengthened by receiving (as she clearly does at White Pine Grove in thruout the state. And since Illinois is the each, as far as they qm, some" impress, or Ogle county and at Sinnissippi Farm near Ore­ Prairie State, we may be justified in calling imparted power, from the other. gon, Illinois), or else by elder as in Fig. 65. it the Illinois rose, and making it a symbol Let us now apply the principle of inter­ Has nature put stratified material into ev­ of the "Illinois way of planting." But to chanO"e to those who live amid woodland. For ery kind of scenery in the world and can symbolize the prairie style that is to fit the exa~ple, the house in Fig. 7.6 is. not wholly the prairie style be adapted to every country? Middle West, shall we not choose that quin­ of the woods, like a log cabm; It has a de­ No. The prairie style ought not to be copied tessence of the prairie spirit-the hawthorn? cided suggestion of the sunny prairie out­ by people who live among the mountains or side, owing to its style of desi?"n. Only one in the arid regions, simply because their WE WILL more touch is needed to umte the home friends in Illinois may have something beau­ grounds with the· outside world, viz., a group tiful in that style. The essence of landscape D Intensify the peculiar scenery amid which of the round-leaved dogwood next to the gardening is the accentuation of native scen­ we live by planting strong masses of the house. For this species (Comus circinata) ery, and the strong feature in mountainous materials native to our type. clearly unites in itself two opposite types ~f countries is the vertical line, which mountain­ D Plant a few stratified materials to remind scenery. It belongs to the woods, because It eers should repeat by planting their own aspir­ us of the bountiful prairie on which the will not thrive in full sunshine, and yet its ing evergreens, such as white spruce, hemlock, prosperity of Illinois largely depends, and horizontal branches clearly suggest the pleas­ and balsam. We can hardly forbid them to show others that we wish to cooperate _ant prairie outside. Other plants that can making some slight suggestion of the neigh­ with any scheme for beautifying Illinois. 24 TI-IE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING IX-Materials Used in the Prairie Style PERMANENT ORNAMENTAL PLANTS NATIVE TO ILLI­ NOIS WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM NURSERYMEN

HIS list is not complete, but it contains Nurserymen. Most good nurserymen offer Horsford, Charlotte, Vt.; Harlan P. Kelsey, T nearly all native plants that are advis­ some of the species mentioned in this circular. Salem, Mass.; Klehm's Nurseries, Arlington able fo r small places, as well as a good Those named below offer a considerable va­ Heights, Ill. ; Henry Kohankie and Son, many that are suitable only for parks and riety of trees, shrubs, and perennials native Painesville, Ohio; Leesley Bros., N. Crawford large estates. It is impractical t o give full to Illinois. Augustine Nursery Co., Nor­ and Peterson Aves., Chicago; Naperville Nurs­ descriptions of all the plants mentioned, mal, Ill.; Geo. Wm. Bassett, Hammonton, eries, Naperville, Ill. ; Swain Nelson and Sons and the garden-lover must look to h orticul­ N. J. ; Biltmore Nursery Co., Biltmore, N. c.; Co., Marquette Bldg., Chicago; Peterson Nurs­ tural publi cations, nursery catalogs, and H . A. Dreer, 714 Chestnut St., Philadelphia; ery, 30 N. LaSalle St., Chicago; the Storrs local authorities for detailed information. Edward Gillett, Southwick, Mass.; F. H. and Harrison Co., Painesville, Ohio.

Class I. Stratified Materials or Symbols of the Prairie (All native to Illinois) (The practical uses to which these are best suited are indicated in the article on page 26. Incidentally they may symbolize or idealize prairie scenery or Illinois surroundings. Those marked * have strong horizontal branches; the others have flat flower clusters.) GROUP 1. PERENNIALS AND NEAR PERENNIALS. a. F or garden cultivation in full sun. 14. Helianthus mollis. Hairy sunflower. 24. Thalictrum polygamum* ( T. Corlluti). 1. Asclepias tuberosa. Butterfly weed. Circular 170, F ig. 62. Fall meadow rue. 2. Aster lcev is. Smooth aster. 15. Heliopsis lcev is. Pitcher's ox-eye. 25 . Thalictrtim dioicum.* Early meadow 3. Boltonia asteroides. Aster-like boltonia. 16. Phlox divaricata. Wild blue phlox. rue. 4. Coreopsis lanceolata. Lance-leaved See Fig. 72 and Circular 170, Fig. 69. c. For water gardws or wet soil. tickseed. Rttdbeckia purpurea. See Echinacea. 26. Asclepias incarnata. Swamp milkweed. 5. Coreopsis tinctoria (Calliopsis elegans) . 17. Rudbeckia speciosa (R : N ewmanni). 27,. Eupatorium perfoliatum. Boneset. Golden coreopsis. (Annual, but self­ Showy coneflower. sows.) 18. Rudbeckia subtomentosa. Sweet cone­ 28 . E upatorium purpureum. Joe-Pye weed. 6. E chinacea purpurea (Rudbeckia pur­flower. Similar to Fig. 69. 29. E upatorium urticcefolium (E. agera­ purea). Purple coneflower. 19. Rudbeckia triloba. Thin-leaved cone­ toides). White snakeroot. 7. Eupatorium crelestinum (Conoclinium fl ower. (Biennial, but self-sows.) Sim­ 30. N elumbo lutea (Nelumbium luteum). coelestinum) . Mist flower. ilar to Circular 170, F igs. 81, 82. American lotu s. 8. Euphorbia corollata. F lowering spurge. 20. Sedum ternatum. Wild stonecrop. 31. Nymphaea odorata. Sweet-scented 9. Gaillardia aristata (G. grandifi ora) . Per­ 21. Solidago Riddelli. Riddell's goldenrod. water lily. Figs. 2, 48. ennial gaillardia. See Fig. 73. ( Collect.) d. For very dry soil, for exam.ple, roadsides. 10. Galium boreale. Northern bedstraw. 21a. Solidago Virgaurea, yar. nana. Dwarf 32. Monarda fis tulosa. \l\Ti ld bergamot. 11. Helenium autumnale. Sneezeweed. goldenrod. 33. Silphium integrifolium. Entire-leaved 12. Helianthus g iganteus. Giant s·unflower. b. For shady places. rosin-weed. 13. Helianthus lce tiflorus. Showy sun­ 22. Adiantum pedatum.* Maidenhair fern. 34. Silphium lacinatum. Compass plant. flower. 23 . Aralia racemosa.* Wild spikenard. (Often native to moist meadows.) GROUP 2. SH RUBS. a. Low shrubs, ordinarily 4 ft. or less in cu.ft. 42. Cornus stolonifera. Red-osier dog­ americanunt, is said to be freer from 35 . Ceanothus americanus. New Jersey tea. wood. plant lice than the European ). Ci rcular 36. Ceanothus ovatus. Illinois redroot. 43 . Sambucus canadensis. American black 170, Figs. 77, 78. 37. Hydrangea arborescens. Wild hydran­ elder. Inside front cover and Figs. 4, c. Tall shrubs, ordinariI::;, 7 to IO ft. in cult. gea. 5, 65 . 38. Viburnum acerifolium. 11aple-Ieaved 50. Aralia spinosa.* Hercules' club. 44. Sambucus canadensis, var. acutiloba. 51. Cornus alternifolia.* Alternate-leaved arrow-wood. Circular 170, Figs. 39, 40. Illinois cut-leaved elder. F igs. 2, 46. 39. Viburnum pubescens. Downy-leaved dogwood. 45 . Sambucus pubens (S. racemosa of some 52. Cornus rugosa (c. circinata).* Round­ arrow-wood. See Fig. 40 and Circular nurseries). American red elder. 170, Figs. 37, 38. leaved dogwood. b. Medium-high shrubs, ordinarily 5 to 6 ft. 46 . Viburnum cassinoides. Appalachian tea. 53. Hamamelis virginiana.* Witch hazel. 40. Cornus Amomum (C. sericea). Silky 47. Viburnum dentatum. Arrow-wood. 54. Physocarpus opulifolius (Spiraea opul­ dogwood. Circular 170, Figs. 79, 80. 48. Viburnum molle. Soft-leaved vibur­ ifolia. Opulaster opulifolia). Ninebark. 41. Cornus racemosa (c. paniculata). * num. 55. Viburnum Lentago. Sheepberry. Cir­ Gray dogwood. Branches stratifie d on 49. Viburnum Oputus. H igh-bush cranber­ cular 170, Figs. 55, 56 . old plants. ry. ( The native form, known as V. 56 . Viburnum prunifolium. Black haw. GROUP 3. SMALL TREES. 57. Aesculus glabra.* Ohio or fetid buck­ 61. Cornus florida.* F lowering dogwood. 66. Crataegus tomentosa.* Pear thorn. eye. ot hardy north. Circular 170, Fig. 110. (Branches sometimes stratified.) 58. Amelanchier canadensis* (A . Botrya­62. Crataegus Crus-galli.* Cockspur thorn. Hawthorns. See Figs. 1, 3, 7, 12, 62, pittm). June-berry. ( Stratified when 63. Crataegus molli s. Red-fruited thorn. 64, 66, 71, 79, 91. old.) See Fig. 78. 67. Pyrus ioensis* (Malus ioensis). Prairie 59. Amelanchier lcevis (A . canadensis of Red haw. Fig. 71. or western crab apple. Fig. 52 . Some­ some nurserymen ).* Smooth june-berry. 64. Crataegus Phaenopyrum ( C. cordata). times cataloged as P. coronaria. 60. Carpinus caroliniana.* American horn­ Washington thorn. 68. Sorbus americana (Pyrus american~) . beam. Blue beech. Fig. 70. 65 . Crataegus punctata.* Dotted haw. American mountain ash. GROUP 4. TALL AND MEDIUM-HIGH TREE S. 69. Acer rubrum.* \ Thrives in some f::t rts 73. Fraxinus americana (F. alba).* White 79. Quercus alba.* W hite oak. Circular of Illinois, but rarely colors highly, and ash. 170, Figs. 23, 58, 60. needs moist soil. ) 74. Fraxinus lanceolata.* Green ash. 80. Quercus coccinea.* Scarlet oak. 70. Acer saccharum.* Sugar maple. 75 . Fraxinus quadrangulata.* Blue ash. 81. Quercus imbricaria.* Shingle oak. 71. Aesculus octandra.* Sweet buckeye. 82. Quercus palustris.* Pin oak. 72'. Fagus grandifolia (F. americana).* 76. Gleditsia triacanthos.* Honey locust. 83 . Quercus bicolor (Q. platanoides).* American beech. Generally fails on 77. Liquidambar styraciflua.* Sweet gum. Swamp white oak. See Fig. 67. prairie and near 01icago, but thrive., 78. Nyssa sylvatica.* Tupelo, pepperidge, 84. Quercus rubra.* Red oak. in some parts of Illinois.) or black gum. Fig. 68. 85 . Sassafras officinale.* Sassafras. GROUP 5. EVERGREENS. 86. Juniperus communis, var. depressa (1. 87. Pinus Strobus.* White pine. (Needs canadensis).* Canadian juniper. drainage.) See Figs. 77, 87.

( THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING Class II. Non-Stratified Materials that are Reminders of Illinois (For their practical uses see page 23. Incidentally they may remind one of Illinois, becau se they are native to the state.) GROUP 1. PERENNIALS AND NEAR-PERENNIALS. a. For garden cultivation in full sun. 10'1. Phlox maculata. Early phlox. ( Miss 116. Mertensia pulmonarioides (M. virgin­ 88. Anemone canadensis (A . pennsylvan- Lingard the favorite variety.) ica). American bluebell. Fig. 38. Circu­ ica). Round-leaved anemone. 102. Phlox paniculata. Garden or perennial lar 170, Fig. 67. 89. Baptisia australis. Blue wild indigo. phlox. 117. Silene virginica. Fire pink. 103. Physostegia virginiana. Obedient plant. 90. Baptisia tinctoria. Yellow indigo. 118. Trillium grandiflorum. Large-flowered 104. Sanguinaria canadensis. Bloodroot. trillium. 91. Camassia esculenta (C. Fraseri). Prai­ 105. Tradescantia virginiana. Spiderwort. rie hyacinth. 106. D Imaria rubra (Spiraea lobata, S. pal­c. For water gardens or moist places. 92. Cassia marylandica. American senna. mata). Queen-of-the-prairie. 119. Acorus Calamus. Sweet flag. (Collect.) 93. Dodecatheon Meadia. Shooting star. b. For shady places. Fig. 36. 94. Erysimum asperum, var. arkansanum 107. Aquilegia canadensis. W ild columbine. 120. Arisaema triphyllum. J ack-in-the-pul­ (E. ar/w1Lsam£m) . Prairie wallflower. 108. Asarum canadense. W ild ginger. pit. 95. Hibiscus Moscheutos. Swamp rose mal­ 109. Campanula rotundifolia. Harebell. 121. Calamagrosti s canadensis. Blue-joint. low. Circular 170, Fig. 105. 110. Cimicifuga racemosa. Black snakeroot. (Coll ect.) Fig. 48. 122. Caltha palustris. Marsh marigold. 96. Liatris pycnostachya. Prairie button. 111. Collinsia verna. Blue-eyed Mary. (Bi­ 123. Iris versicolor. Larger blue-flag. 97. Liatris scariosa. Large button snake­ ennial but self-sows.) 124. Lobelia cardinalis. Cardinal flower. root. 112. E rythronium albidum. White adder's tongue. (Bulb. ) 12'5 . Sagittaria latifolia (S. variabilis) . Ar­ 98. Lilium philadelphicum. Wild red lily, rowhead. (Collect.) Fig. 46. (Bulb.) 113. Hepatica triloba. Hepatica. 114. Lilium canaden se. Wild yellow lily. 126. Sparganium eurycarpum. Broad-fruited 99. Lobeli a cardinalis. Cardinal fl ower. (Bulb.) bur reed. (Collect. ) 100. Pentstem on laevigatus, var. Digitalis 115. Lilium superbum. American turk's cap 127. Typha angu stifolia. Narrow-leaved cat­ (P. Digitalis). Foxglove beard-tongue. lily. (Bulb.) tail. ( Collect.) Fig. 2. GROUP 2. SHRUBS. a. Low shrubs, ordinarily 4 ft. or less in cult. Figs. 14, 39. Circular 170, F igs. 44, 76, 150. Spiraea alba (S. lanceo lata). Western 128. Amelanchier alnifolia. Northwestern 83. meado:w-sweet. june-berry. 140. Rubus hispidus. Running swamp black­ 151. Symphoricarpos racemosus. Snowber­ Dwarf june-berry. berry. ry. 129. Amelanchier alnifolia, var. pumila. 141. Symphoricarpos occidentalis. W olf- 152. Xanthoxylum americanum. Prickly ash. 130. Diervilla Lonicera (D. trifida). North­ berry. See No. 159. ern bush honeysuckle. 142'. Symphoricarpos vulgaris. Indian cur­ c. Tall shrubs, ordin.arily 7 to 10 f t. ilL cult. 131. Evonymus obovatu s. Running straw­ rant. 153. Aronia arbutifolia (Pyrus arbutifolia, berry bush. See 163. b. Medium-high shrubs, ordinarily 5 to 6 ft. in S orbus arbutifolia). Red chokeberry. 132. Prunus pumila. Sand cherry. cultivation. 154. Aronia melanocarpa (Pyrus nigra, Sor­ 143. Corylus americana. American hazel. bus melanocarpa) . Black chokeberry. 133. Rhus canadensis (R. aromatica). Fra­ 155. Benzoin aestivale (B. odorif erum., LilL­ grant sumac. 144. Evonymus americana (Evonymus). Strawberry bush. dero Benzoin). Spicebush. 134. Ribes americanum (R. fi oridum) . Amer­ 145. Ilex verticillata. Winterberry. 156. Cephalanthus occidentalis. Buttonbush. ican black currant. 146. Rhus copallina. Black sumac. 157. Rhus typhina CR. hirta). Staghorn 135. Rosa virginiana (R. blanda). Smooth 147. Rhus glabra. Common sumac. sumac. Fig. 22. rose. 148. Ribes aureum (R. odoratum). Flower­ 158. Staphylea trifolia. American bladder­ 136. Rosa carolina. Swamp rose. ing currant. nut. 137. Rosa humilis. Low rose. 149. Ribes Cynosbat1. Wild gooseberry. 159. Xanthoxylum americanum (Zanthoxy­ 138. Rosa lucida. Glossy rose. 1490. Salix interior (S. longifolia). Sun­ lum) . Prickly ash. F or screens and 139. Rosa setigera. Illinois or prairie rose. set willow. (Collect.) barriers. See No. 152.

GROUP 3. VINES. 160. Ampelopsis cordata ( Vitis indivisa) . eysuckle. ( Southern and central Illi­ See Fig. 39 and Circular 170, Figs. 14, Simple-leaved ampelopsis. nois.) 42, 43, 71. 169. Rubus hispidus. Running swamp black­ Ampelopsis Engel11'tanni and quinque­165. Lonicera Sullivantii. Minnesota h oney­ folia. See Parthenocissus. suckle. berry. 161. Celastrus scandens. Bittersweet. Circu­ 170. Tecoma radicans. Trumpet creeper. 166. lar 170, Fig. 47. Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Ampelop­Circular 170, Fig. 66. sis quinquefolia) . Circular 170, Fig. 45. 171. Vitis aestivalis. Summer grape. 162. Clematis virginiana. Wild clematis. 172. Vitis bicolor. Northern fox grape. 167. Parthenocissus quinquefolia, var. Eng­ 163.· Evonymus obovatus. Running straw­ 173. Vitis cinerea. Sweet winter grape. elmanni (Ampelopsis Engelmanni) . Illi­ berry bush. See No. 131. 174. Vitis cordifolia. Winter or frost grape. nois creeper or Engelmann's ivy. Grape, wild. F igs. 74, 75. 175. Vitis vulpina (V. riparia). Riverbank 161. Lonicera sempervirens. Trumpet hon- 168. R osa setigera. Illinois or prairie rose. grape.

GROUP 4. SMALL TREES. 176. Cercis canadensis. Redbud. 178. Ptelea trifoliata. Wafer ash. Hop 179. P yru s coronaria. Narrow-leaved or 177. Prunus americana. Wild plum. tree. eastern crab apple. GROUP 5. TALL AND MEDIUM-HIGH TREES. 180. Betula papyrifera. Canoe birch. 187. Morus rubra. R ed mulberry. 193. Quercus macrocarpa. Bur or mossy­ 181. Catalpa speciosa. Western catalpa. 188. Platanu s occidentalis. Buttonball. Syc- cup oak. 182. Celtis occidentali s. Hackberry. Fig. 2·1. amore. ]930. Salix vitellina. Yellow willow. 183. Gymnocladus dioica (G. canadensis). 189. Populus grandidentata. Gray poplar. 194. Taxodium distichum. Bald cypress. Kentucky coffee tree. 195. Tilia americana. American linden or 190. Populus deltoides. Cottonwood. 184. Juglans nigra. Walnut. Fig. 17. basswood. Fig. 3. 185. Liriodendron Tulipifera. Tulip tree. 191. Prunus serotina. Wild black cherry. 196. Tilia heterophylla. White basswood. Circular 170, Fig. 110. 192. Prunus pennsylvanica. (Cerasus penn­197. U lmus americana. American elm. Fig. 186. Magnolia acuminata. Cucumber tree. sylvanica) . Wild red cherry. 3. Circular 170, Fig. 59. GROUP 6. EVERGREENS. 198. Juniperus virginiana. Red cedar. Fig. 47. 199. Thuya occidentalis. American arbor­ Circular 170, Figs. 9, 30. vitae. Circular 170, Fig. 10. 20 T HE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN L ANDSCAPE GARDENI NG X-Some Uses for Illinois Materials I. THE COMMON PROBLEMS OF SMALL HOME GROUNDS

1. Foundation Planting FOR THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE HOUSE 2. Vines for Porches and House Walls HE nearer the house the more exacting Low Shrubs.-(About 3 to 4 feet high.) For full lists of native vines, see page 25, T are the conditions and the more con­ Native: Rosa setigera, Rosa nitida, Rhus aro­ Nos. 160-175. matica, Rosa lucida,:j: Diervilla Lonicerat and On brick, stone, or rough concrete, use the ventional must be the planting materials. A sessilifolia,t Hydrangea arborescens and var. higher percentage of foreign and horticultural self-supporting kinds, like Ampelopsis Engel­ grandiflora. Foreign: Berberis Thunbergii, manni, which is hardier than A. Veitchii. varieties is permissible here than anywhere, Spiraea j aponica, var. alba, Taxus cuspidata save in the garden. Unfortunately, the favor­ On a wooden house avoid the above and and var. brevifolia. use a trellis or strong wire fastened with hooks ites are grossly overplanted, especially the Medium shrubs.-(About 5 to 6 feet high.) so that vines can be laid down when the house "inevitable three"-Japanese barberry, Van Native: Viburnum dentatum, Rhus copallina. is painted. Ampelopsis quinquefolia, Celas­ Houtte's spirea, and Hydrangea paniculata, var. Foreign: Berberis vulgaris, Forsythia inter­ trus scandens, Clematis virginiana, Rosa seti­ grandiflora, all of which are foreign. Their media, Ligustrum Ibota, var. Regelianum, Lon­ gera. brilliancy soon becomes commonplace, or tire­ icera Morrowi, Rosa rugosa, Spiraea arguta, For front porch or refined surroundings, some, especially when a house is surrounded Magnolia stellata. Akebia quinata, Clematis paniculata, Rambler by barberry or spirea alone. It is better to High shrubs.-(About 8 to 10 feet high.) and Memorial rose hybrids (not very hardy have variety enough to furnish some flowers Native : Viburnum prunifolium, Lentago, and in northern Illinois), Rosa setigera, Wistaria or color for every month. Try to have half Opulus.t Foreign: Forsythia intermedia, var. chinensis. the materials or more native to Illinois. In Fortunei, Lonicera tatarica, Philadelphus On back porch. The following may be arranging the materials leave one or more coronarius, Syringa vulgaris,t Viburnum to­ too coarse for the front of a fine house. mentosum, Viburnum Lantana. attractive parts of the foundation unplanted. Celastrus scandens,t Tecoma radicans,t wild grapes,:!: and Lonicera japonica, var. Halliana.t Put the tallest shrubs at the corners, angles, FOP. THE SHADY SIDE OF THE HOUSE On the shady side. Ampelopsis Engelmanni and against high foundations. In front of Low shrubs-(About 3 to 4 feet high.) and quinquefolia, Lonicera Halliana, Vitis windows a carpet of trailing juniper may be Native: Rhus aromatica, Hydrangea arbores­ Labrusca, Vinca minor. suitable. The plants marked t are often called cens, Symphoricarpus vulgaris, Ceanothus "coarse" by some landscape gardeners, who americanus, Taxus canadensis. Foreign: 3. To Frame the View of the House consider them unsuitable for the most refined Spiraea j aponica, var. alba. For small houses, hawthorns and Cornus surroundings. Others declare that ordinary Medium shrubs.-(About 5 to 6 feet high.) florida. For large houses, Ulmus americana, foundation planting is pitifully weak, thru Native: Cornus racemosa, Viburnum cas­ Quercus rubra, Acer saccharum, Tilia amer­ over-refinement, and that large buildings re­ sinoides, Symphoricarpus racemosus, Ribes icana. quire large shrubs with large leaves for proper aureum.t Foreign: Aralia pentaphylla, For­ proportion. They prefer more virility and ~ythia intermedia, Ligustrum Ibota, var. Regel­ 4. Borders therefore believe in using hawthorns and even lanum. (Numbers refer to species on pages 24, 25.) sumacs against some foundations, especially High shrubs.-(About 8 to 10 feet high.) Perennials for sunny borders: 1-21, 88-106. farmhouses and tall buildings. If more flowers Native: Viburnum Opulus,t Physocarpus opul­ Perennials for shade: 22-25, 107-118. Low are desired than bushes furnish, the shrubbery ifolia.t Foreign: Forsythia intermedia, var. shrubs: 35-39, 128-142. Medium shrubs: 40­ can be edged or carpeted in places with trailing Fortunei, Ligustrum Ibota, Ligustrum amur­ 49, 143-159. Tall shrubs: 50-56, 153-159. Small myrtle and daffodils or Darwin tulips. ense, Cornus alba, var. sibirica.t trees: 57-68, 176-179.

II. SPECIAL PROBLEMS (Numbers refer to species on pages 24, 2'5.) Arbors and Pergolas substitute fo r Gypsophila paniculata, which northern Illinois, but not of the central and Hawthorns (62-66) make natural arbors of fails in Illinois, according to Augustine. southern parts, according to Burrill, and there­ great beauty in Illinois. Climbers for arbors Dry Soil fore should be planted freely in northern Illi­ and pergolas 160-162, 164, 166-168, 170-175. The following are great drought-resisters, nois to intensify the natural beauty of that Banks most of them growing wild in sandy soil. region: White pine, arborvitae, canoe birch, black ash, mountain ash, wild red cherry. Shrubs and creepers are cheaper to main­ Perennials: 2, 8, 20, 21, 32-34, 89. Shrubs: 35, tain than grass, for banks are hard to mow. 132, 133, 137, 143, 146-147, 157. Vines: 161, Trees for Central Illinois To hide useless terraces and bad grading, 166, 174. Trees: 58, 76, 79, 84-85, 178, 180. The following trees are characteristic of arching shrubs like 139 and 142, and rampant Evergreens: 86, 198. central Illinois, but not of northern, according vines like 166 and 168, and 170-175, are useful. Edging to Burrill, and may be planted to intensify Bird Gardens Flower beds: 104. Shrubbery beds: 133, the natural character of central Illinois: flow­ E lders attract and feed with their berries 142. ering dogwood, pin oak, shingle oak, sassafras. sixty-seven species of birds; shrubby dog­ Meadows Trees for Southern Illinois woods, forty-seven; sumacs, forty-four; june­ Bulbs for naturalizing in meadows : 91, 93, The following trees are characteristic of berries, twenty; and hawthorns, twelve. Other 98, 114-115. southern Illinois, according to Burrill, and important groups are Juniperus, Ribes, Rosa, Poor Soil therefore, they may be planted to intensify Viburnum, and Vitis. See Farmers' Bulle­ See Dry Soil for many that will grow 111 the natural beauty of this section. American tin 621, U. S. Department of Agriculture. sand. Juniper dislikes rich soil. beech, sweet gum, bald cypress, western 'catal­ Bluffs Screens pa, silver-bell tree, basket oak, willow oak, For permanent effect 87, 195, 196, 198. For Rhus typhina. Morus rubra. cucumber tree, tulip tree. immediate effect, plant thickly cheap native Shade Water Gardens and Water-Loving Plants stock in variety, especially suckering plants Perennials: 22-25, 107-118. Shrubs for shady like locust, 42, 43, 142, 148, 157, 159, and Perennials: 26-31, 119-127. Shrubs: 40-42', side of house, see above under Foundation rampant vines like 161-162, 166, 171-175. P lants 136, 140, 145, 1490, 150. Vines: 169, 175. P lanting. The following rarely thrive without that lean over the top of bluffs are 57-61, and Trees: 69, 76-78, 1930 , 194. Evergreens : 199. shade: 38, 45, 52. 176, while 149 and 166 hang far down. Street Trees W indbreaks Clay Soils (Heavy) No species comes near perfection, but a sat­ Instead of short-lived evergreens, like Nor­ Trees : 70, 84. Shrubs: 46-49, 135, 137-139. isfactory tree can generally be found in this way spruce, Scotch pine, and Austrian pine, short list : Red oak, American elm, Norway plant long-lived evergreens like white pine and Color hemlock. Instead of short-lived deciduous maple, oriental plane, sugar maple, pin oak, Middle-western perennials are classified by trees, like willows, soft maple, box elder, and white ash, American linden, European small­ color and season of bloom in Bailey's "Stand­ poplars, plant long-lived trees like sugar maple, leaved linden, horse chestnut. Avoid the ard Cyclopedia of Horticulture," vol. 3, pp. red oak, scarlet oak, or pin oak. "It may often 1469, 1470. short-lived box elder, soft maple, and poplars. "Green ash is better than white ash."- Burrill. be best to plant quick-growing trees, but if Cut Flowers SO, put them in separate rows so that they can Perennials: 4, 9-20, 96-97, 101-102. For Trees for Northern Illinois be removed easily without destroying the lightening bouquets of sweet peas, 10 is a good The following trees are characteristic of more permanent trees."-B'urrill. '­ THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCA,P E GARDENI NG ------._------­ XI-Literature of the Prairie Style of Landscape Gardening

T HE following list makes no pretense of completeness. The subject is so new that the literature is fragmentary. The relation of each item to the prairie style or Illinois way is indicated. Where no name is given the author is the writer of this circular.

Agriculture General Bird Gardens in the City. Country Life in America. October, 1914, pages 58-59. De­ The Illinois System of Permanent Fertility. How the Middle 'vVest Can Come Into Its Cyril G. Hopkins. Circular 167, Illinois scribes gardens of Albert H. Loeb and Julius Own. Country Life in America, September Rosenwald in Chicago. The former is a Agricultural Experiment Station. The 111i­ 15, 1912, pages 11-14. Mentions about fifty restoration of plants native to Cook county. nois system of permanent agriculture, when characteristic plants of the region from the fully developed, wil1 include permanent farm Alleghenies to Omaha and from the Great Gartenkunst in Stadtebau. Hugo Koch. buildings and permanent planting materials, Lakes to the Ohio river. Berlin, Wasmuth, 1914. Describes and illus­ as wel1 as permanent fertility of the soil. trates work in Humboldt and Garfield Parks, How to Heighten Western Color. Country Often the orchards and the layout of the Chicago. farm will be permanent. The Illinois way Life in America, April, 1913, pages 80, 82, 84. o,f pla,nting is part of this larger scheme, Names twenty-seven species of permanent Planting Materials Sll1ce It uses permanent ornamental plants. plants native to Illinois and the Middle West. Mentions twelve motives for unique gardens List of Perennials and Shrubs for Planting The Development of American Agriculture, and cites western examples. in Illinois. A. VI. Augustine in Transactions what it is and what it means. Eugene Dav­ Illinois Horticultural Society, 1913, vol. 47, enport in Report of the Illinois Farmers' In­ The Illinois Way of Beautifying the Farm. pages 22-34. Gives in tabular form hardiness, stitute, 1909, pages 101-121. Contains on pages Wilhelm Miller. Circular 170, Illinois Agricul­ method of propagation, value for cut flowers, 108 and 109 a plea for the country beautiful, tural Experiment Station, 1913. Names and etc. illustrates many permanent planting materials including a suitable country architecture and Western Perennials for Western Gardens. long-lived trees. native to Illinois, suitable for country and city planting. Has 112 illustrations. Miller, Foglesong, and Aust, in Bailey's Stand­ The Prairie Farmer's Creed. Clifford V. ard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, 1915, vol. 3, Gregory. Prairie Farmer Publishing Com­ The Illinois Way of Roadside P lanting. pages 1469-1471. pany, Chicago, 1912'. Inspirational matter on Wilhelm Miller in Fourth Report of the Illi­ a 9x12-inch poster. nois Highway Commission, 1913, pages 334­ Forest P lanting in Illinois. R. S. Kellogg. 345. Two illustrations. Circular 81, Forest Service, U. S. Department Botany of Agriculture, 1910. Describes the Urbana An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United The Illinois Way of Foundation P lanting. plantation and names, on page 30, the long­ States. Britton and Brown. Scribner, 1913. Wilhelm Miller and F. A. Aust in Arbor and lived species for shelter belts. Three volumes. Describes and illustrates all Bird Days, 1914. Department of Public In­ plants native to Illinois. struction, Springfield, Illinois, pages 7 to 19. Poetry Advocates foundation planting for school Catalog of the Flowering and Higher grounds and describes in tabular form twenty­ The Prairies. William Cullen Bryant. Flowerless Plants of Illinois. T. J. Burrill, six Illinois shrubs, giving season of flowers in inth Report of the Board of Trustees of The Plains. Lawrence Hope in "India's and berries, together with autumn or winter Love Lyrics." John Lane, 1908. the Illinois Industrial University, 1878. The colors. Six illustrations. nearest approach to a Flora of Illinois. The Proud Farmer, The Illinois Village, and Though out of date, it is still helpful. A flora Billerica. The North Shore Illinois Edition, On the Building of Springfield, icholas of the state is greatly needed. issued monthly, beginning April, 1915, contains Vachel Lindsay in "General William Booth," The Flora of Cook County, Illinois. Higley climatic charts, maps, and tables prepared Kennerley, ew York, 1913, pages 111-119. and Raddin. Bulletin of the Chicago Academy under the direction of ·Warren H. Manning, Prairie Songs, especially The Call of the of Sciences, 1891. Has been much used for Tremont building, Boston, and articles by \V. Wind, by Joseph Mills Hanson in Frontier restoration work in northern Illinois. C. Egan, E . O. Orpet, Emil Bollinger, Stephen Ballads. McClurg, 1910. F. Hamblin, and others. Concerns the region Flora Peoriana. Frederick Brendel. Valu­ from Evanston to Waukegan. able for restoration work in central Illinois. Scenery Illinois As It Is. Frederick Gerhard, 1857. Landscape Extension. Bailey's Standard Many contemporaneous descriptions of the Chapter on climate, soil, plants, and animals Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 4, 1915, pages wild prairie may be found with the aid of by Frederick Brendel, pages 230 to 258. De­ 1813 to 1814. States aims, methods, and re­ Buck's Travel and Description, 1765-1865, pub­ scribes plant societies of central Illinois. sults in university extension work in land­ lished by the Illinois State Historical Library. scape gardening, and cites several plans and Springfield. Climate plantings done by the Division of Landscape Life Zones and Crop Zones. C. Hart Mer­ Extension, University of Illinois. The Middle West-Heart of the Country. riam, Bulletin 10, Division of Biological Sur­ Hamlin Garland in Country Life in America, vey, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1898. September 15, 1912, pages 19 to 24, 44, and 46. Gives a scientific classification of American Illinois Examples of Landscape Gardening Popular account of the geologic origin of the climates, including the three zones in Illinois, Middle West and brief but comprehensive de­ An American Idea in Landscape Art. Coun­ scription of the following regions: Rolling and names characteristic trees and crops of try Life in America, vol. 4, 1903, pages 349 - 350~ each zone. prairie, Great Lakes, lake region, Dells, and Describes and illustrates Graceland Cemetery coulees of Wisconsin and Mississippi river. Conservation Chicago. ' Reports of the West Chicago Park Com­ The P lains and Prairies. Emerson Hough Report of the Illinois Park Commission for in Country Life in America, October 1, 1912, missioners, 1905 to 1908. Early illustrations 1912, Springfield. Describes Starved Rock, pages 27 to 32, 50, 52, 54, and 56. Contrasts White Pine Forest, and Cahokia Mound, of the Prairie River restoration and Rose Gar­ den in Humboldt Park, and of the Conserva­ the humid and arid regions, describes some of The White Pine Forest of Ogle County, Illi­ the chief floral effects on the wild prairie, and nois. Free booklet published by the White tories in Garfield Park. Lists of materials planted and quantities used. declares that the landscape has had an im­ Pine Forest Association, Mrs. J. C. Seyster, portant influence on human character. Secretary, Oregon, Illinois. Landscape Gardening under Glass. Country Illinois Fifty Years ago. William Cullen E cology Life in America, December 15, 1911, pages Bryant, Prose Writings, Appleton, 1901, vol. 21, The Plant Societies of Chicago and Vicinity. 10-11 and 50-51. Describes and illustrates Con­ pages 13-22. Describes prairie near J ackson­ Henry C Cowles. Bulletin 2, Geographic So­ servatories at Garfield Park, Chicago. ville in 1832. ciety of Chicago, University of Chicago Press, What Is the Matter With Our Water Gar­ The Far West. Edmund Flagg, 1838. Re­ 1901. Names the characteristic plants of four­ dens? Country Life in America, June 15, 1912, printed in Thwaites' "Early Western Travels," teen environments, such as the ravine, river pages 23-26. Describes and illustrates the vol. 26, pages 340-342. bluff, flood plain, prairie, etc. Rubens garden, Glencoe, Illinois, which is a spring, brook, and lake modeled on a prairie The Homes of the New World, Fredrika The Prairies. B. Shimek in Bulletin of State Bremer, 1853, vol. 1, pages 601-603. University of Iowa, vol. 6, pages 169-240 water system. This is also a restoration of vegetation native to the "North Shore" of Illinois As It Is. Fred Gerhard, 1857. (1911). Gives in tabular form over two hun­ Chapter on "The Prairies." dred typical prairie plants of Iowa, and indi­ Illinois. cates the frequency with which they are found A New Kind of Western Home. Country Boy Life on the Prairie. Hamlin Garland. on flat and rolling prairie, ridges, openings, Li fe in America, April, 1913, pages 39-42. Macmillan, 1899. Describes Iowa scenes, but alluvial soil, and sand dunes. Explains tree­ This article describes farm of F. O. Lowden, is largely applicable to Illinois. less character by exposure to evaporation. Oregon, Illinois, as type of country gentle­ The Prairie and the Sea. Wm. A. Quayle. _Bibliography on origin of prairie. man's estate in Middle West. Eaton and Mains, New York, 1905. 28 THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

• XII-The Showiest Plants In the World GARDENESQUE MATERIALS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR GARDENS BUT SHOULD BE USED SPARINGLY, IF AT ALL, ON LAWNS

OST people are eager to avoid serious cruel, then, for more experienced gardeners to the utmost animosity against magenta, as if M mistakes in landscape gardening, because say that you are trying to get the biggest show it were a bad color in itself. Is any color no one likes to be accused of bad taste, and f or the money! The kindlier thing is to ex­ inherently bad, or is it largely a question of it is not pleasant to have one's home ridiculed. plain to a beginner that tropical plants do not combination? Most of the color discords in Singularly enough, most of the adverse harmonize with a northern landscape, as hardy gardens are caused by the near-magenta colors, criticism of home grounds comes from using plants do (see Figs. 80, 81), and therefore such as purple, crimson, and crimson-pink. the very plants that are generally considered it is more fitting to put tender plants in a gar­ So notorious are these "troublesome colors" to be most attractive in the world. People den and hardy plants on the lawn, for the that careful gardeners have a rule not to buy sometimes go so far as to impugn the motive garden or back yard is private, while the lawn a phlox, peony, iris, or chrysanthemum from of a lady whose home grounds are exceedingly or front yard is public. The showier the a catalog, even when they are advertised as brilliant. "She wants to appear richer than plants, the less we should expose them to being delicate colors like pink and lavender. she is," they say. But is this fair and friendly? every passer-by. It is a generous impulse Sad experience teaches that it is safer to We doubt whether most people are really that prompts us to share our greatest joys with select such varieties when they are in flower. "guilty of insincerity," or "deliberately try to everybody, but experience teaches that it is If there is some plant of this color-group deceive," or "wish to make a vulgar display better to reserve them for family and friends which you love very much, can you not har­ of wealth." On the contrary, we believe all than to force them on the public. It saves re­ monize it by surrounding it with a white­ their motives can generally be reduced to four buffs. The quieter thing is in better taste. flowered variety, since white is the peace-mak­ innocent desires that may be grounded in in­ ing color among flowers? If not, it is easy stinct. For everybody loves flowers and color; 2. Annual Flowers to refine any near-magenta flowers simply by everyone likes to have shade and beauty as putting them in deep shade. But would the quickly as possible; everybody likes a little SECOND excess into which we are led world come to an end if these "dangerous variety or spice in li fe; and everyone has at A by our innocent desire for color is to put colors" were omitted altogether? What if least a rudimentary respect for neatness and too many annual flowers into the front yard. a certain garden contained no cockscomb, order. Is it not possible that most of the People who regard everything that is cheap Joseph's coat, spider flower, blue hydrangea, alleged vulgarity is simply an excess of these and popular as "vulgar" sometimes speak purple althea, Douglas spirea, Eva Rathke virtues? At least the heart often tempts us to slightingly of annuals, as if they represented a weigelia, Anthony Waterer spirea, or kochia? overdo a good thing. Suppose, then, we make low degree of taste. Surely there is nothing Would it be forever ugly, or are there enough the charitable assumption. Let us say that the inherently bad about the famous annual other flowers in the world? motives are honorable, and the plants are at­ flowers, such as China asters, c ornflowers, cal­ tractive, and the whole question of good taste liopsis, cosmos, pinks, pansies, poppies, stocks, 4. Showy Foliage Plants and zinnias. On the contrary, refined people is simply one of self-restraint or of fitness. FOURTH excess to which many people Figs. 82, 92. It may help us to understand consider them quite appropriate to gardens. They are invaluable because they are the cheap­ A are led by the desire for color is the use why experienced gardeners sometimes abuse of too many plants that have extremely showy the very plants that seemed best to them as est flowers of all and give results the first sea­ son. Every child should have a chance to foliage, like the golden-leaved elder, golden beginners, and it may be interesting to dis­ mock orange, golden ninebark, and golden cover what plants these knowing ones now grow the,flowers that have charmed humanity for centuries, but the place to do it is in the privet. Why do people who once grew these prefer. First, then, let us see how an inno­ plants call them "yellow journalists?" Is there cent love of color leads beginners to buy the flower garden, not in the front yard. Pure pink petunias may look very well when edging anything essentially criminal or low in them? five classes of plants which commonly pro­ On the contrary, they will produce more color voke the charge of bad taste or insincerity. a garden path, but do they on a front w1!lk? A straight line of scarlet sage may fit a gar­ at less expense than flowers, and at a distance den, but does it look right when stretched they look like flowers. The first time we track 1. Bedding Plants across the front of a house? A bed of an­ down one of these gorgeous color masses and .. nuals may look very well at the edge of the discover it is a showy-leaved variety of some UPPOSE you are an inexperienced home­ lawn, but how about the middle? familiar shrub, we are greatly interested. The S maker-one of the thousands who are be­ next time there is a little disappointment to ginning family life every year in Illinois. You 3. Flowers of the Brightest Colors find that the wonderful new "flowers" are only are afraid the place will not look well the leaves. After half a dozen experiences of the fi rst year. Even if you set out trees and THIRD excess to which we are often im­ kind people begin to feel tricked, and some are shrubs it is obvious that the place lacks A pelled by this same innocent love of so unkind as to call it a cheap way of mak­ flowers. The florist tells you that tender color, is the use of too many plants that have ing a big show of color. F lowers are fi ner plants will give more color than hardy ones. the strongest colors. One of the common­ products of nature than abnormally colored So you buy cannas, geraniums, begonias, or est complaints that ladies make is that leaves. For example, coleus is probably the coleus, and in the kindness of your heart you "magenta flowers won't harmonize with any­ m ost efficient colorist the poor man can buy, put them in the middle of the front lawn so thing in the house or outdoors, and we can't andcrotons are perhaps the most brilliant that every passer-by may enj oy them. How wear them." Gardening writers often express foliage plants that the wealthy put in their

80-81. Bedding Plants make the Biggest Show the First Year, but does Tropical Vegetation Harmonize with a Northern Landscape? The bedding system gives more color than shrubbery during summer, but has no winter beauty, and the expense must be renewed every year. Fancy flower beds in the middle of a lawn make a home stand out in gaudy . contrast to the surroundings; native trees and shrubs blend it with the landscape. 'THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

82-83. Good Taste in Landscape Gardening is largely a Matter of Fitness These flowers are good, but are they not more appropriate in the back yard? In front yards, neighbors can cooperate to get long views, like the one at One's taste cannot be questioned if the private part of the lot is screened. the right, by keeping them free from flower beds and by foundation planting.

lawns, but their flowers are inconspicuous or of which makes an exquisite accent, while cannas, geraniums, or begonias. People who lacking, and so refined people say that coleus twelve in a mass are merely showy. A lmost want a change from these sometimes use and crotons are like showily dressed people as charming is a single purple-leaved barberry hardy plants that bloom two months or more, who are deficient in character. in the border, but what about a hedge of it e. g., the Belladonna larkspur, Miss Lingard So, too, with variegated plants, which have across the front of the average city lot? phlox, Napoleon III pink, Stokesia, Veronica the leaves striped, barred, or spotted with And how would you like to have a nursery­ subsessilis, or everblooming Lychnis. Those white or yellow, like the famous little white­ man scatter over your lawn six or eight speci­ who like to have the prairie suggestion for a edged geranium we see in every park, which mens of the purple-leaved plum which he long time can get it from phlox, gaillarlias, devotes itself so conscientiously to showy calls Prunus Pissardi? and mist flower (Eupatorium ccelestinum). leaves that it hardly ever produces a flower. Probably the hardest plant for beginners to This is quite right, but should it be carried Why does the author of "The English Flower resist is the blue Colorado spruce, which is to the point of having more everblooming Garden" stigmatize them all as "variegated undoubtedly the showiest and most popular flowers than short-lived ones? If so, we have rubbish?" Because they are cheap? No, be­ evergreen in the world. It is said that one a show garden instead of a garden of senti­ cause rich people are much given to planting eastern millionaire has planted $50,000 worth ment. Which is better for the average family? golden evergreens. Is it because variegation of it on his place. But in the communities Have you ever seen a rich man's show gar­ is often considered a sort of disease, since that have had the longest experience with den dominated by everbloomers, such as variegated plants are often less robust than showy plants there is a quiet reaction against cannas, geraniums, and begonias? It is cer­ their original forms? Not altogether. Colorado spruce, because so many places have tainly more gorgeous in summer than the ordi­ The real obj ection is that plants with abnor­ been overdressed with it, just as some people nary hardy garden. And the longer the flor­ mally colored foliage often make a place too have overloaded their persons with faultless ists' creations bloom the more we admire their stimulating, the weight of authority being in jewelry. Around Boston, which is very rich in efficiency. But do they stir the imagination favor of a restful place rather than an excit­ tine old examples of landscape gardening, th~ or touch the heart like the first glimpse of ing one. Clear proof of this is furnished by leaders declare that a single blue spruce is "daffodils that come before the swallow dares, places that are rich in magnificent specimens enough for a large estate and too much for and take the winds of March with beauty?" the average city lot. of copper beech, purple maple, and golden oak. "Fair daffodils, ye haste away too soon," Even the worst scolds among the critics con­ 5. Everblooming Flowers mourns Herrick, and this is true of nearly cede that such plants are absolutely perfect of HE fifth excess into which we are be­ every hardy flower, from spring crocus to au­ their kind. Yet the lawns of the newly ·rich T trayed by our natural love of color is the tumn chrysanthemum. The very fact that they are often overpowered by these superb trees use of too many everblooming plants. Yet are short-lived is a part of their charm. The -so much so that some unkind persons call some of these often seem absolutely necessary pang of parting with one favorite soon gives them "purple cow places." . for certain spots which ought to look neat and way to the pleasure of greeting the next One of the most refined shrubs is the red­ attractiye all summer. That is why every friend in the procession. The garde'1 of sen­ leaved rose (Rosa rubrifolia), a single bush formal garden is likely to contain a bed of timent is dominated by hardy perennials like

84-85. Before and after Learning how to Arrange Showy Plants "Like most people who move from a great city to a wooded suburb, I tried "Finally I realized that an open, central lawn, fl anked by masses of native to save all the crooked, diseased. and short-lived trees. After losing four years trees, is better than a museum of costly curiosities. I now grow showy plants I cut them down and fi ll ed the lawn with showy flower beds, trees, and ~hrubs." at the edge of the lawn only."-Wm. C. Egan, Highland P ark, Illinois. 30 THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

86. Mr. Farmer, why don't you Restore Illinois Trees to your Farmstead instead of Spoiling Illinois Scenery with Foreign Trees? The settlers were excusable for planting the "cheapest evergreens" like Norway spruce, but can't you see how these spiry trees f ail to harmonize with the characteristic beauty of middle-western woodlots and the dignity of your own pasture oaks? If you need evergreens, why not plant white pin e? See Figs. 87, 88. tulips, iris, peonies, phlox, pinks, foxgloves, house planted with hydrangea and nothing Quick Growers Canterbury bells, sweet william, oriental pop­ else? Can you not make the front door suf­ UITE as laudable as the universal love of pies, larkspurs, and chrysanthemums. The fic iently attractive and more dignified by plant­ Q color is the universal desire for quick re­ flowers are all short-lived, but the succession ing near it shrubs and vines that are present­ sults, since speed has something to do with is generally satisfactory. If not, perhaps it able longer than flowers, such as the Illinois efficiency. Moreover, the quickest-growing can be supplemented from the lists of peren­ creeper or Engelmann's ivy and others rec­ plants generally cost the least, and are there­ nials on pages 24, 2"5. The great thing for the ommended for foundation planting on page 26 ? fore doubly attractive to beginners. Unfor­ millions is not the showy garden of temporary So, too, with the shrubbery border. There tunately, the speediest plants are generally of plants, which must be renewed every year. are comparatively few summer-blooming short-lived efficiency or beauty. For example, The great thing is the hardy garden of per­ shrubs, but it is possible to keep up a show the farmers must protect house and stock from manent plants. The fleeting flowers make less by using Hydrangea arborescens, var. grandi­ the winter wind as soon as possible, so they -display than the everbloomers, but are they flora. The newly rich often try to beat commonly plant Norway spruce, Austrian pine, not in better taste? nature in this way, but older families generally and Scotch pine, which generally lose their If restraint be desirable in a private flower acquiesce in nature's suggestion that a place most valuable branches (the lower ones) be­ garden, how about the front yard? The be­ which is green in summer is more 'restful than fore they are twenty years old, and turn a ginner's ideal is to have a big show of one which strains to keep up a display of dingy brown or look unhappy. See Fig. 88. flowers from spring to frost in both places. flowers. A famous example is the place which Granting that some of these temporary ever­ But is this either practical or desirable? If is often said to be the best example of land­ greens may be necessary, why not also plant you go away for a summer vacation, what be­ scape gardening in America, the Sargent home some permanent evergreens, like white pine <:omes of flowers in the front yard? Beginners at Brookline, Massachusetts. It is natural for and hemlock? commonly put an everblooming bed in front the beginner to think that flowers are more 'With these evergreens the old-time farmer -of the house, but it is generally more practical important than foliage, and to the heart they commonly planted box elder, soft maple, or and in better taste to place it at the rear or are. Consequently people often plant only willows to shelter house or cattle from the side. The commonest mistake we make in golden bells, spirea, mock orange, lilac, and winter winds. The new-time farmer will America with everbloomers, especially near hydrangea, all of which are lovely in flower, avoid these temporary trees, if he can, and if the front door, is to overdo the shrub that but have little autumn color, and are devoid not he will plant near them some long-lived gives the most bloom for the money, viz., of color all winter. A week or two of bloom trees such as sugar maple, and pin, red, or Hydrangea paniculata, var. grandiflora, a is about all you get from the ordinary shrub, scarlet oaks. name which is contemptuously shortened by and what you live with for six months is City people want shady spots in their yards some to "p. g." But there is nothing to sneer foliage. Consequently, landscape gardeners for rest and play, so they often plant soft at in a hydrangea, especially if it be put in a have a saying that "foliage is more important maple or box elder or Carolina poplar, which garden and allowed to assume its natural form than flowers." The people are right in feeling are soft-wooded, like all quick growers, and of a small tree. Unfortunately, most be­ that the average home place does not have therefore likely to be ruined by ice or wind ginners prefer to make a bigger show, and by color enough. Right here is where the expert storms soon after they attain a good size. Can following the fl orists' advice to prune heavily, planner does better than the beginner. He they not get the shade they require in some they get a small bush that is covered with gives you more color thruout the year, but other way, e. g., by means of a screened porch e normous, topheavy bunches of bloom. Look distributes it more evenly by using shrubs or summer house, or a large permanent tree? that have the triple attractions of flower. along an average American street next Sep­ Home-makers like to get rid of the bare tember and consider how much restraint has autumn color, and brightly colored berries or branches. Thus, on a well-planned place every­ look as soon as possible, so they often put a been used in planting the showiest shrub in California privet hedge next to the side­ <:ultivation. What about the walks, drives, one's taste in color naturally becomes refined, and the eyes are opened to the quieter delights walk or at the sides of the lot, or they sur­ and boundaries double-lined with hydrangea round the house with privet. Unfortunately of form and texture in foliage. .and nothing else? How about the front of a the California privet often dies to the ground in Illinois, and even where it is hardy it has little flowering, autumnal, or winter beauty. It is better to put the same money into three- to four-foot plants of Japanese barberry, Van Houtte's spirea, and golden bells, and set them against foundations. Those who like to reap the rewards of foresight may congratulate themselves if they resist the allurements of quick­ growers. And they will not have to wait twenty years to get satisfaction. Every day they see a town full of soft maple or box elder they will be glad they planted sugar maples or oaks. Spectacular Forms UITE as natural as the love of color Q and speed is the craving for that variety which is the spice of life. Any­ one who wishes to attract the attention of every passer-by to his place can easily do so by planting in his front yard one or more trees that stand up like flag poles. The most celebrated of these col­ Which Looks Better on Prairie, Long-Lived White Pine or­ orway Spruce ~mnar trees is the Roman cypress, which Consider the value of these pines f or windbreaks and winter beauty on this Cheap, showy, and quick. IS the sp~ctacular feature of the famous l owa farm. There is enough roll here for drainage, which white pine demands. but soon gets thin and brown. old Itahan gardens. The spectacular­ THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING tree of eastern formal gardens is the red cedar. regions in the The cheap substitute for these evergreens is world. And that is the Lombardy poplar, which will shoot up why I wish the faster, probably, than any other ornamental farmers would chop tree in the temperate zone. It will screen down, as soon as unsightly obj ects at the least cost and in they can spare them, the Norway spruces double-quick time. It will grow on a city lot that murder our Il­ that is too small for an ordinary tree. More­ linois scenery." over, it often gives a pleasing note of uplift, "Another assassin which is a refreshing change in a monotonous i s the Lombardy environment. Even its short term of life can poplar (Fig. 90), often be ignored, because the tree can be re­ which I call the placed cheaply and quickly. Any plant with 'butcher knife,' and such extraordinary virtues will always be a I beg our wealthy leading favorite, and, of course, it has been people who plant it 89. Order is a Virtue, but Artificiality an Excess grossly overplanted. People naturally sup­ Is not Catalpa Bungei overdone here and in many front yards, especially on their country when double-lining walks and drives? Is it well to surround a house or lot with pose that if one poplar makes a good accent, a estates to kill it trees of one kind, set at equal distances in straight rows? (See Fig. 90.) dozen will look better, but is it so? One without delay. It is exclamation point may look well, but are not impossible to find any plants that will make a Weeping Trees and Shrubs twelve in a row ridiculous? What about the more violent contrast with prairie scenery than NE degree less spectacular than sky-rocket ordinary city lot outlined with twelve to thirty the Norway spruce and Lombardy poplar. O trees are plants that seem to grow up­ Lombardy poplars? See Fig. 90. Too much They are like the clash of drum and cymbals, side down, like the Camperdown elm or Teas' accent is no accent, as the real estate dealer for they demand instant attention from every­ weeping mulberry. These are certainly legiti­ quickly discovers when he plants half a mile body. What they give to the prairie landscape mate in back yards, especially when trained of street with nothing but Lombardy poplars. is not accent, but shock. Accent is, or should for children's play houses, but are they usually Overplanting of the Lombardy and Bolles' be, intensification of the original note-not appropriate in front yards? 0 doubt they poplar is a city man's vice. something surprisingly different. The accent­ attract more attention there, but they also pro­ The corresponding vice of the country man marks designed for the prairie by nature are voke more ridicule. is overplanting of Norway spruce. One of horizontal haws and crabs, not spectacular There is nothing essentially ridiculous in a the leading landscape gardeners in the Middle poplars. (Figs. 90, 91.) It almost seems as if weeping willow, for a single specimen of the West says, "The Illinois farmers often spoil the great artist, ature, purposely omitted Babylonian or Napoleon beside the water may the beauty of their farms by planting Norway plants with strong upright lines when putting have considerable dignity, but a row of them spruce around their houses. See Figs. 86, 88, the finishing touches on her most exquisite has been compared to "hired mourners." Prob­ I call it the 'rip saw' because the ascending creation, the prairie. Even the red cedar, ably the most efficient of these professionals branches of this evergreen tear thru the which is native to Illinois, hugs the lake shore is the Kilmarnock weeping willow, which is. sky-line of the deciduous trees in his grove or hides in wooded river bottoms; it will not the poor man's favorite, but equally absurd or woodlot. I like evergreens and have thrive in the open, as it does in the East. My is the rich man's lawn if overdressed with planted thousands in Illinois, but the only one advice to clients is usually to kill Lombardy costly specimens of weeping spruce, dogwood, that harmonizes with the prairie is white pine, and Norway and plant prairie haws and and Japanese maples and cherries. Such forms originated in the garden, as­ and that does not thrive everywhere. See Fig. crabs t" 87. The crowning glory of the eastern scenery Manning says, and they belong there, not on may be the army of evergreen spears that Is it not barely possible that there are other the lawn. The weeping, cut-leaved, and spec­ pierce the roof of the forest. Every land· ways of getting variety in home grounds than tacular plants are mostly horticultural va­ scape gardener who has come to Illinois has by planting Lombardy poplars? Two hundred rieties rather than natural species, and they tried to reproduce that effect and failed, for kinds of permanent plants native to Illinois are generally perpetuated by artificial means,. Illinois cannot grow evergreens as well as the are mentioned on pages 24 and 25, about four such as grafting. They are one degree re­ East. But this limitation is a blessing in dis­ times as many as a landscape gardener usually moved from nature, and to that extent may be guise, for it gives us a chance to discover the considers enough for the average city lot. Can­ considered artificial. For this reason, people peculiar beauty of western woodlands, which not those who want a change from the prairie prefer plants that are naturally pendulous, is the comparatively level sky-line and soft, get it by making their home grounds a snug rather than artificially so. For example, they billowy texture of our deciduous woods. This harbor or retreat, instead of a museum? ·Why like the Wisconsin willow better than the type of beauty is less spectacular, and may not surround farmstead or back yard with trees Kilmarnock willow, which is so radically dif­ be poorer in species of trees, but it is ex­ and shrubs, mostly native, and have a private ferent from the normal willow. On the other quisitely appropriate to so rich and peaceful a outdoor living-room where one may entertain hand, the cut-leaved weeping birch seems· land as the prairie. To city people from the friends? Will not the prairie seem more merely to intensify the peculiar grace of its. East it may be an acquired taste, but the beautiful to the city man by contrast with his prototype, the European birch. It is prob­ farmers feel it. It is part of their faith that home grounds? And will not home look twice ably the most popular of all weeping plants Illinois will become one of the most beautiful as good to the farmer after a day outdoors? and deservedly so, in spite of its rather short

90-91. Which is the Better kind of Accent for the Prairie, Vertical or Horizontal-Foreign Poplars or Native Haws? A little accent is a good thing, but how about thirty Lombardy poplars sur- Some landscape gardeners will never plant the Lombardy poplar on th~. rounding a city lot? "AlI accent is no accent." Nature left the exclamation prairie. They say it makes too strong a contrast, while the haw and crab delicately point out of Illinois scenery. accent the native beauty of the scenery. (A hawthorn in bloom.) ..:--­

2 THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT IN LANDSCAPE GA.RDENING 3 . '" ~

~ l

92-93. Good Taste in Landscape Gardening consists largely in Self-Restraint about the Showiest Plants in the World "We made the usual mistake of planting too many rare, costly, foreign trees. "Finally we cut them out. (The ring in the grass shows one scar.) The When we learned better, two weeping trees equal to the above hid a view." finest specimens in the world are less important than good views."-Wm. C. Egan. life. No wonder we see six trees of it in a substitute for these is California privet terials-plenty of them in the garden, but less city yard where one would be better, for it is trained like a bay tree, and another is Catalpa on the lawn. It would be easy for us to betray easy to overplant the exquisite thing. Bungei, sometimes derisively called the "lolli­ the people's interests by encouraging beginners How many weeping plants can the average pop" or "all-day sucker." This has a legiti­ to plant anything they fancy in any way they city lot contain with good effect? Some mate use in formal gardens, but does it fit the like. But there is a chance to save the people critics say "none at al1." Others say "one­ front yards of Illinois? What about drives and of Illinois much money and time by pointing and that in the back yard." walks planted with Catalpa Bungei and noth­ out the evolution of taste which communities Cut-Leaved Plants ing else? See Fig. 89. and individuals commonly experience. To L ESS spectacular, perhaps, than columnar Double Flowers summarize it all, people generally pass in their or weeping trees are cut-leaved plants. A SUBTLER case of formalism which is appreciation from the temporary to the per­ Certainly they are not so liable to criticism, overdone in many front yards in Illinois manent, from the spectacular to the restful, and they are supposed to give refinement or is the use of double flowers, such as flower­ from the showy to the quiet, from the artificial elegance to a place. The standard of. beauty ing almond, flowering peach, Bechtel's crab, to the natural, from rare to common, from for­ in this group is the fern-leaved beech. East­ double lilacs, Paul's scarlet hawthorn, snow­ eign to native. See Figs. 84, 85, 92, 93. ern people often are exceedingly proud of balls, altheas, and hydrangeas. Double What can be done with costly specimens that their fancy beeches, as if they had done a flowers bloom longer than single ones and are, are out of place? This is a painful question great deal to make them perfect specimens, therefore, invaluable in formal gardens, espe­ to those who have just learned that natural­ whereas it is hard to fail with them. Unfor­ cially in beds where a continual show of color istic surroundings are in better taste than the tunately, beech rarely thrives in Illinois. must be maintained, but professionals gen­ gardenesque. Three courses are possible : The excessive use of finely cut foliage often erally agree that they are "too gardenesque for (1) remove them to the garden or back yard; tends to make a place look effeminate, weak, the lawn." Their single-flowered forms seem (2) sell them or give them away; (3) use the over-refined. This is especially true of the more appropriate to nature-like surroundings. axe. As an older editor once told an eager re­ front yard that contains half a dozen Wier's Double flowers are artificial in the sense that cruit, "The public may object to what you leave cut-leaved maple or cut-leaved birch. their fullness is dependent upon man, for they in, but they never miss what you cut out." The first time one meets a r efined stranger go back to single forms if planted in the wild. WE WILL on the lawn, it is pleasant to discover that he Moreover, they generally tend toward one belongs to a respectable family, like the syca­ form-that of the ball-thus obliterating the o Try not to overplant the things we love mores, lindens, alders, or hawthorns. But go individuality of the original flower. Con­ most, especially in the front yard. to any big nursery and you will see that these sequently, many who r etain the double flowers o Plant our home grounds in the naturalistic supposed rarities are rather common, for in the garden make it a point to have only style-not in the gardenesque. most trees and shrubs of importance have single flowers on the lawn, e. g., single o Move gardenesque materials from lawn to their cut-leaved editions. Then comes a re­ hydrangeas and single white altheas. Instead garden. vulsion of feeling against reducing all of of the common and J apanese snowballs they nature's distinct leaf forms to a mass of plant the single-flowered originals of these, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS shredded vegetable matter. Viburnum Opulus and V. tomentosum. Landscape Gardeners. The work of Jens Jensen is The reaction against "horticulturals" brings In some cases, however, everybody acknowl­ shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8, 10, 25 to 34, 36, 39, 42, 46, 48, 50, 56, 59, 69. The work of O. C. Simonds is people back to nature with the question, "Is edges that the double flowers make a stronger shown in Figs. 3, 54, 60, 62, 67, 68 , 71, 72, 94, 98. there not some simpler way of getting refine­ human appeal, especially the "queen of flow­ The work of W. H. Manning is shown in FIg. 44. ers." It is the most natural thing in the world Architects. The house in Fig. 1 is by Louis H. ment in foliage?" Nature replies that she Sullivan, who is genera1!y considered the founder of has adapted to Illinois the following trees to put the common double roses in the front the middle-western school of architects. Fig. 76 is with pinnate or feathery foliage: walnut, ash, yard, but practical conditions are against that by Frank Lloyd Wright, who first developed the type of domestIc architecture which is called in these Kentucky coffee, mountain ash, honey locust, location. Garden roses have to be heavily fer­ pages the "prairie style." (Mr. Wright declines to and bald cypress. With shrubs of this sort tilized and one does not' like to have manure give or recognize any name for this work.) For the she has not been so generous, but a variety under the parlor window. The bushes must work of Robert C. Spencer, see front cover. Figs. 5 and ] 7 are by William Drummond. Fig. 11 is by of cut-leaved elder originating in Illinois is be pruned so severely that they are not Hewitt & Brown. becoming a special favorite of our people. presentable near the front door. Many begin­ Photographers. The front cover, frontispiece, and See Figs. 2 and 10. This plant is Sambucus ners line their front walks with double roses, Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25 to 34, 36, 38, 39, 46, 52, 54, 57, 58, 60. 61, 62, 65, 67, 68, 69, canadensis, var. acutiloba. but is that the place to wage war on aphids, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 88, 90, 94, 97 are by A. G. El­ Formal or Geometrical Plants thrips, and rose-bugs? If we put double roses dredge. Figs. 9, 35] 41, 42, 45, 50, 53, 55, 56, 66, 86 'lr~ by or from ens Jensen. Figs. 4, 13, 14. 73, UITE as natural as the love of color, in the shrubbery, they will not hold their . own against the bushes. Most people, after 87, 8!J, 92 are by the J. Horace McFarland Co. Figs. Q speed, and variety is the love of order. 1, 8, 47, 48, 59 are by Henry Fuermann & Sons. trying every location in the front, have taken A certain amount of formality is necessary, Figs. 16, 82, 83, 95, 96 by B. A. Strauch. Figs. 15, their double roses to the back, but they pre­ 37 by H. J. Sconce. Figs. 19, 20 by L. D. especially amid conventional surroundings. Seass. Fig. 21 by L. Foglesong. Fig. 22 by serve the rose sentiment in the front yard by E. Unfortunately, this love of order runs to C. N. Brown. Fig. 23 by A. G. Eldredge and F. A. planting the wild or single roses, of which Aust. Fig. 40 by Alfred Rehder. Figs. 43, 44 from great excesses of artificiality, especially in the a list is given on page 25 (Nos. 135-139) . Warren H. Mannin\!. Fig. 49 from W. A. Simms. East, where rich men's gardens are often Figs. 63, 64 bv O. B. Brand. Figs. 51, 70 by F. A. The Evolution of Taste Aust. Fig. 77 by A. E. Ormes. Fi\!. 78 by Carl loaded with globes, cones, pyramids, cubes, and Krebs. Fig. 79 by Mrs. Lew vVall

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I t has been propo 'ed that graft can be largely prevented ways upon occasion. Some of the sentiments expressed below and the best citizenship promoted by a dramatic ceremony have little to do with home gardening, but they have much to connected with the be towal of political power. Every do with park design, which used to be the most important ~arge park has some broad lawn suitable for public gather­ part of a landscape gardener's practice, and all must be con­ mgs, such as ball games, folk dances, pageants, and political sidered in city planning, which is commonly regarded as the meetings. The youths and maidens, clad in flowing robes, most important branch of landscape gardening today. The may assemble in such a spot and make their vows of good following is not recommended for any particular locality, but citizenship according to the form in which each city chooses merely suggests some 'of the civic ideals that are commonly to express its ideals. At least one Illinois city is consider-· proposed by city clubs, chambers of commerce, and other bodies ing the best possible setting for great public gatherings that usually attempt to express the aims of a community. Each where the city's aims may be expressed in dramatic town, of course, will wish to formulate its aim~ . in its own way.

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I will receive the right to vote as a I will work for peace and try to prevent I will endeavor to make my community sacred trust and always use it for the good war-military, economic, and social. so comfortable and beautiful that her chil­ of the whole community, instead of my I will practice moderation in speech and dren will always wish to live here and own selfish interest. will urge toleration in matters of con­ share in the perfecting of our civilization. I will vote for the liberty, health, and science. I will try to build a permanent home sur­ happiness of all my fellow citizens, not for I will help Illinois enlarge and improve rounded by many permanent plants native the privilege of any class. her cities by promoting cooperation or to Illinois. I will separate local issues from national emulation among neighboring communities, As a public token of my loyalty I will ones and vote for the best man for each job, and I will not work against nearby towns. plant beside the foundation of my home regardless of party politics. I will help Illinois preserve and restore some Illinois roses to remind me and I will assume all men to be honest and her sacred shrines of native beauty by ex­ o·thers of the "Illinois spirit." try to cooperate with public servants be­ tending ·the state and local park system for I will work persistently to express the fore criticizing them adversely. the recreation of soul and body. highest ideals of all citizens in a compre­ I will strive unceasingly against graft, I will do what I can to develop a living hensive city plan for extending, developing, corruption, and inefficiency. civic art, as the Athenians did. and beautifying the city.

The Illinois Spirit 111 Landscape Gardening-Developing the Native Beauty instead of Copying a Foreign Type • Italy has her cypresses, Scotland has her pines, the East has her mountain laurel, and Illinois has her hawthorns, crab apples, bur oaks, and prairie rose. Does your community own a spot like this, which can be used for pageants, folk dances, readings, religious meetings. and the citizen's oath? (A scene in Graceland.)

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