This section is from the book "The Villa Gardener", by J. C. Loudon. Also available from Amazon: The Villa Gardener.
Between the pillars, immediately within the panels of open ironwork, are placed narrow boxes, the exact length of each opening, which are filled with small pots of plants in flower, changed throughout the year as they go out of bloom. In autumn and winter, these are chiefly Russian violets, protected from frost by having a mat thrown over them; and, in spring, forced hyacinths, which make a brilliant display. At the bottom of the back wall of the veranda, a collection of chrysanthemums are placed when in flower, and their stems being tied to the rods which support the vines, they flower beautifully in the month of October and November, remaining in mild seasons till Christmas. We mention this for the sake of showing that a veranda of this kind is capable of affording a great deal of floricultural enjoyment. Under the veranda on the north side of the building no plants are trained, the occupier preferring to be without them. The conservatory (g) is planted with different varieties of Camllia, and the piers with Eriobotrya japonica, Lonfcera flexudsa and japonica, Wistaria sinensis, Passiflora cterulea, and vines: the latter are the royal muscadine, the muscat of Zante, muscat of Alexandria, Money's West's St. Peter's, and the black Hamburg. These vines are trained round the inside of the glass dome, and produce a good crop yearly.
The door shown in the back part of the veranda has the panes of looking-glass; and, before the camellias grew large, it reflected them, as seen from the front garden, and from the road, in a very striking manner.
 
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