96 ALPINE FLOWERS AND GARDENS 



* just one bloom,' and it was only by a tardy show 

 of firmness that a few blooms remained to myself. 



Unlike the popularity of the Edelweiss, that of 

 the Blue Thistle, as far as I know, owes little to 

 the risk and danger of seeking it where it grows ; 

 it is comparatively rare that it shows a liking for 

 cliff and precipice. If it has its tale of woe, it is 

 less decided than that of another and very lovely 

 flower, Aquilegia alpina. Growing often in * ugly ' 

 places, this exquisite and far from common bright 

 blue Columbine has been more than once known 

 to cause disaster. And the same may be said for 

 the yellow Alpine Auricula {Primula au7icula). In 

 fact, the same could doubtless be said of many 

 another plant ; for variety in the circumstance of 

 each flower is not wanting in the Alps, and thus 

 there is no lack of suitable opportunity for the 

 foolish or foolhardy to indulge in freak perform- 

 ances. 



While on the question of risk and danger attach- 

 ing to Alpines, mention may periiaps be made of 

 several which are dangerous on account of their 

 poisonous properties. The stately blue Monk's-hood 

 {Aconitum napdlus), for instance, bears the label 



* Dangerous.' Here is beauty capable of inflicting 

 a very different kind of mischief from the Edelweiss ; 



