160 ALPINE FLOWERS AND GARDENS 



remarkably rich and varied collection of lovely 

 Pinks. With these and many another bright and 

 exquisite flower in abundance, what need for 

 Papaver nudicaule, the Iceland Poppy, to lend its 

 brilliance to the feast ! 



There are many things of beauty in this world 

 about which we feel most eloquent when we remain 

 dumb — things of beauty which we can sensibly 

 appreciate more than we can explain ; and it is 

 among these things that we must place the 

 mountain-flowers. Their fascination is so elusive a 

 quantity that it quite defies adequate presentation 

 by either pen or brush. What presentation we 

 can make is of necessity in the manner of a mere 

 'prentice hand. Whether it be in the gardens or 

 upon the wild mountain-side, the moment we set 

 pen or brush to paper this elusiveness confronts us, 

 and we are aware that we have sensed more than 

 we can tell. Perhaps this is especially the case 

 when we are gazing upon Alpines in all the 

 attractiveness of freedom. Then, especially, is 

 there a je-ne-sais-quoi of enchantment which sets 

 us childishly fumbling upon our palette or among 

 our parts of speech. We are filled with confused 

 expression ; adjectives are of small avail, and our 

 brightest, deftest colour-blends are flat and lifeless. 



