THE WINDOW-BOX GARDEN
Window-box gardens are, of course, only a variation of the
trough gardens made to fit a particular window or sill, but there
are several modifications. First, however, note particularly that
a window-box is not necessarily a minigarden; very few are; and
there is a very big difference between the two.
A window-box garden has to be considered for its appearances
from quite different viewpoints:
(i) from the inside of the room at normal eye level;
(ii) from the outside;
(iii) as part of a room decoration ;
(iv) where several appear on the front of a house, for both the
individual and collective appearance. It is aesthetically
desirable that their outward colour and form should be
uniform and in harmony with their surroundings.
Window-boxes can be given a permanent facia board, attached
either to the box itself or preferably as an independent screen
behind which the box can be set. The facia should be weather-proofed or it can be decoratively finished with paint (monotone,
harmonizing or contrasting colours); tree bark; trellis or fretted
pattern; wood panels; carved or turned wood; plastic; wrought
strip metal; cork; ornamented lead; plaster moulding; leaded
glass panels, etc. Original variations might be made to represent
fencing, perhaps with a gate in the centre, or something to suit
the decoration of the particular house. Well-designed window-
box facias can transform the appearance of a house, and make it
look gay, or homely, elegant or charming.
Window-boxes are frequently made of hardwood of between
1/2-in. and 1-in. thickness. Teak is best; oak and elm the most
common. Ends should be dovetailed and screws used instead of
nails. The complete box should be thoroughly weather-proofed
inside and out.
A light concrete trough is probably better than wood and can
easily be made at home. A recommended suggestion is to have
metal containers (with a wire handle each end) which will drop
into the trough. The gardens are then built in these containers,
either one or two to each trough. The metal containers should
either stand on or be fitted with studs to allow clear drainage.
With a little forethought, the minigardens for the window-box
can be planned in conjunction with indoor gardens so that they
are interchangeable. If, for instance, there are three such gardens,
two could always be out and one always indoors, changing on a
rota say about once a week. This would prolong the life of indoor
gardens indefinitely, permit a wider range of plants, and always
provide a varying indoor garden.
The making and fitting of troughs and window-boxes is
described in the next chapter.
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