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TERRACES offer a pleasant place for outdoor living. Usually
these are partially enclosed paved spaces adjacent to the
house. Technically, of course, a terrace is an area raised
above the general level. The enclosure may be with walls,
hedges, or small, compact, shrub borders. Walls lend finish
and definiteness to the area, particularly when the terrace is
close to the house or near a formal garden.
Terrace Plantings
The low, broad, evergreen hedge, perhaps of Japanese yew
is also excellent for enclosure. It is hardy, compact, rich in
appearance, and may be kept clipped almost indefinitely to
any desired height. Dwarf box, if allowed to grow naturally,
makes a fine informal hedge, but is slow to develop. Japanese
holly, common box (Buxus sempervirens) and the convex
leaved Bullata box, the dwarf Taxus canadensis stricta, and
a few other evergreens can be similarly used. Then there is
the deciduous Viburnum opulus nana which is compact and
dwarf, Symphoricarpos chenaulti, Siberian willow, purple
leaved barberry, and Truehedge Columberry, which are less
ordinary than the privets and barberries.
the pavement. If these are very narrow, use ground cover,
English ivy, particularly the new small-leaved dwarf vari
eties, and myrtle, and plant among them for spring color,
crocus, scillas, and even groups of hyacinths and small
flowered narcissus. For later bloom, plant lilies, and plunge
potted geraniums, fuchsias, and lantanas into the beds, or set
tubs of them here and there on the terrace for accent and
color. For broader color effects, use instead of ground covers,
bedding plants--ageratum, candytuft, browallia, or fragrant
heliotrope.
When the beds in the terrace are larger or the terrace is
quite expansive, plant specimen evergreens as accents in the
beds or use them as potted material. The terrace is the place
for those attractive exotic plants which are difficult to work
into the general landscape scheme. Alberta spruce, the dwarf
Japanese holly, daphne, several of the low spreading junipers
and cotoneasters, or in protected corners, a plant or two of
doubtful hardiness like English or French holly, Iris juniper,
laurelcherry (Prunus laurocerasus), or nandina. Taller herbs,
rosemary lavender, and rue can often be enjoyed in such a
place, and summer-flowering bulbs-lycoris, tuberous bego
nias, summer hyacinthes, and tuberoses. In terrace beds, they
can be given the room and care they demand and be near at
hand where their delicacy can be appreciated. (Plate 30.)
When terrace paving is laid in sand or soil, small rock
plants may be used in the crevices. These add a touch of color,
break the monotony of wide expanses of paving, and will even
stand a certain amount of walking on. It is inadvisable, how
ever, to plant where there is constant traffic or where outdoor
furniture is placed.
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