Without landscaping, even the most charming period home will appear incomplete. Shrubs are a common, traditional accompaniment to old houses, and they can be planted in a variety of formations with historical precedent—from foundation plantings to topiaries to walls of plants across the horizon.
Classic bedding plants like dahlias, coleus, impatiens, and petunias have long been American garden favorites. Their seemingly timeless appeal stems in part from their consistent beauty and ease of growth—but scientific innovations play a part, too.
Much has changed since the early days of lightning protection, when it was widely believed that the glass balls adorning lightning rods were an indicator of whether the rods were functioning properly. We now know that the glass balls were purely decorative—in fact, the balls’ different patterns and colors were how installers advertised their businesses.