FLOWERS AMONG CHIMNEYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 103, 22 July 1927, Page 5

FLOWERS AMONG CHIMNEYS

GARDENS FOR ALL By PEGGY SHEPPARD. To the great army of those nature lovers who must live in a town where it is impossible to have a garden, the window-box is almost a necessity, for it solves their problem simply and delightfully. A window garden can be a thing of sheer delight, if designed by a person with imagination and a real love for flowers. Indeed, no home need be without blooms if there is a windowsill large enough to be converted into the “city man’s paradise.” First of all, the “window gardener” must construct his “plot.” For this the first essential is a long, deep box. The box may be wider than the window ledge, so long as it is securely fastened to the window with strong brackets. The window box should be painted the same colour as the window-frame, care being taken to choose a weatherproof paint; or, if preferred, the front of the “garden” can be tiled to suit the owner’s tastes. It must be remembered that the window box is a substitute for the garden bed, and must be made as much like the real thing as possible. Thus it is an absolute necessity to have it properly drained, and, to ensure this, the bottom of the box must be pierced with holes, over which broken pieces of an old flower-pot are scattered. The box should be deep enough to hold at least six to eight inches of soil, and the gardener should endeavour to plant three rows of flowers in it to give a good display. Do not overcrowd for the window box fails unless it provides opportunity fox* healthy plant life. Select the soil carefully, seeing that it is well-manured, fibrey loam. Trouble should be taken when planting the flowers, to make certain that they are well bedded, and the soil pressed down firmly round the roots. A sparsity of soil will ruin all chances of good display of flowers. If the “garden” is to be constructed m the summer, there are sevei-al plants which can be chosen, as geraniums, obelias and calceolarias. These brightly-coloured blossoms make a delightful picture, and are well worth cultivating. A gardener of initiative can use his or her own imagination in the arranging of the box, ti’aining ci*eeper over the box, or introducing other little personal ideas. Indeed, no hard and fast rules can be laid down, for inJividual tastes very, and, moreover, the style and decollation of the house and windows must be considered. But. if a window garden is planted with thought and interest, and receives the maximum amount of sunlight and attention, it will thrive, and will more than reward its designer. No home is complete without flowers so set to work, gardeners, and have window gardens gay with blooms inns summer: