136 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



Lily was instituted by Garcius, fourth King of 

 Navarre. 



The Milk Thistle (Carduus marianus) takes its 

 name from Mary, and was known as " Our Lady's 

 Thistle." It owes its name to the white veins 

 upon its leaves, for which legend accounts thus: One 

 day Our Lady, tired from a long ride, seats herself 

 beneath a hawthorn, and proceeds to feed the Holy 

 Child. Soon the Holy Mother slumbers, and the 

 Divine Babe, refreshed, sinks sweetly asleep also, 

 and some drops of the milk thus escape, and trickle 

 down upon a thistle growing by the Madonna's 

 side. And it is the imprint of this accident upon 

 its leaves that gives to C. marianus the white 

 marks that distinguish the plant. 



An Order of the Thistle, called the Order of 

 Bourbon, was instituted in France in 1370, in 

 honour of Our Lady. 



The Iris, owing to its brilliant hues, the Greeks 

 named after the rainbow, symbol of light and 

 hope. 



To Juno, Queen of Heaven, the iris was dedicated, 

 and was regarded as symbolical of eloquence and 

 light. From her, in Christian times, the iris passed 

 to Our Lady, to whom the white species more 

 especially is dedicated. 



In " Flower Lore and Legend," the Reverend 

 Hilderic Friend gives us an interesting summary 

 of Our Lady's flowers. In chapter iii., " The 

 Virgin's Bower," he says: "How liberal we have 

 been towards Her Ladyship will appear when I 

 enumerate some of the plants with which She is 

 honoured. Thus, as She reclines in Her. bower, we 

 provide Her with boots and slippers for Her feet, 



