OUR LADY'S FLOWERS 



137 



garters with which to keep Her hose in place, and 

 laces for Her shoes. We have found Her a thimble 

 and needle with which to sew, a smock and a mantle 

 in which to garb Herself, a cushion on which to 

 recline, and a comb and looking-glass for Her hair. 

 Having done all this, we plant around Her bower 

 trees, grass, whin, clover, cowslip, mint, bracken, 

 foxgloves, fern and thistles to make Her garden 

 gay." This is a brief summary of the more 

 common plants dedicated to the Holy Virgin, or 

 bearing her name: 



The dodder, although in some parts of the 

 country exclusively regarded as an evil plant, in 

 other districts is dedicated to Mary, under the 

 name of '' Our Lady's Laces." 



In Mexico, the ipomoea grows so profusely that 

 its azure blossoms are 5 to 6 inches across, and 

 set so closely together that hardly a leaf can be 

 seen. The whole plant resembles a blue cloak, 

 and thus its name: " Manto de la Virgin." 



The marigold, according to an old tradition, was 



