A NATURALIST IN BRAZIL 



which slope upwards, gently at first, and then more steeply, until 

 they meet the forest which covers all the heights. 



In November all Petropolis was a symphony in blue. The lawns, 

 surrounded by inviting summer-houses, were gay with the sky-blue 

 blossoms of the Hortensia shrubs : a picture of the most luminous 

 purity. In the foreground were often long rows of a South African 

 lily, whose trumpet-shaped blooms, arranged in umbels, were 

 likewise a beautiful blue. Above them, like stately candelabra, were 

 the solemn Araucarias, whose pungent, resinous fragrance, blending 

 with the cool mountain air, filled one's heart with the joy of life. 



But even in these Brazilian hill-stations I was conscious that the 

 soul is an instrument attuned to its native landscape — that only its 

 native airs can elicit its finest harmonies. In Nova Friburgo I visited 

 the park, which lay beside the charming country-house of my 

 amiable host. It was a beautiful park; a pretty little house stood 

 amidst little lakes above whose surface nodded aquatic flowers; 

 roses were blooming everywhere; other flowers shone amidst the 

 shrubberies ; and in the background three bare green peaks rose 

 above the lofty tree-tops. And suddenly I found that my heart was 

 singing for joy in the sheer beauty of it all. I looked around me, 

 and I realized that I was walking through an avenue of maples 

 which skirted one of the lakes. The sun was shining through the 

 yellow leaves ; a scent of autumn was in the air ; and suddenly with 

 overwhelming force the thought possessed me : After all, how 

 beautiful is Europe ! 



In aiming at effects of colour the tropical gardener has not only 

 flowers but leaves at his disposal. In Chapter XIII I shall speak of 

 plants which surround their inconspicuous flowers with garlands of 

 coloured leaves, and one cannot imagine anything more splendid 

 than the leaf-rosettes of the Parrot-bush, a species of Euphorbia, which 

 sets the gardens of Rio and Sao Paulo aflame. But for bordering paths 

 and shrubberies there are also the coloured and handsomely-marked 

 leaves of arums, which hang perpendicularly downwards, so that 

 they form a kind of hedge which seems to be covered with brilliant 

 tapestries. Certain Dragon-trees too form attractive border-plants. 

 And now for the palms. What a wealth of magnificent forms are 

 at the disposal of the tropical gardener! What majesty there 

 is in these lofty columns, what rich and varied greys cover these 

 stately trunks ! When I saw such an avenue in one of the streets of 



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