The Star Mall
In 1961, evergreens and flowering shrubs surrounded the mall’s perimeter. At the front, a flower garden of various chrysanthemums preceded a patch of green lawn at the base of the landscaped design. The design was a star within a circle. The octangular pool of deep, blue water spewed its contents through three, tall fountains in the circle’s center. Triangles filled with small, white periwinkles composed the star’s five points. Carefully maintained grass covered the space between each triangle. A footpath ran around the design and the mall’s circular circumference. A long, thin pool laid at the Star Mall’s uppermost region. Known as the Dancing Waters, the twelve fountains shot forth water in various patterns at different heights. At night, lights positioned along the pool’s bottom illuminated the Dancing Waters with shades of yellow, red, green, blue, and white. The six flags which flew over Texas stood proudly behind the fountains. On the left side, the American flag waved in the air. It was followed by the Confederate flag, Texas flag, Mexican flag, Spanish flag, and French flag.
The Star Mall changed slightly in 1962. It still had the same design and structure, but the star now displayed over six hundred lilies. When summer started, officials tried a landscaping scheme different from the previous year.
In 1965, the design and structure completely changed. Sixty ten-foot poles stood along the perimeter, each holding a hundred-pound hanging basket filled with ivy leaf geraniums. Along the northern sector, the Dancing Waters remained. The large star in the middle, however, disappeared. Six, circular garden plots individually surrounded by a low, stone barrier took its place. All had red crepe myrtle shrubs and at least one colorful tree. Standing in the center of these garden plots, a tall fountain spewed water into a long, oval-shaped pond. The fountain consisted of a tall, thick pipe extending into a central unit with several protruding arms. These arms lightly expelled water, creating a thin, misty layer over the ball-like structure.
|
February 28th, 2008, 08:54 AM
Linear Mode
