of a succession to Daffodil and Narcissus in long grass would An Alpine 

 be solved. One has tried to introduce the flowers to the grass, Hayfieldand 

 but probably the more successful plan would be to start with Columbines 

 the flowers and let the grass introduce itself. Some day I hope 

 to try the plan of clearing a bit of ground and planting all the 

 treasures of one such Alpine field Geranium, Trollius, the 

 fluffy mauve Thalictrum, pink Persicory, Astrantia, Ranunculus 

 aconitifolius, St Bruno Lilies, and Columbines, etc. 



Columbines (Aquilegia) are perhaps one of the best plants 

 for holding their own in a Wild Garden, and flourish year after 

 year, struggling successfully even through a tangled undergrowth, 

 and encouraging one to persevere in the effort to establish 

 garden flowers in wood and field. The self-sown Columbines 

 are mostly soft dull pinks or reds toning, by the way, 

 capitally with Weigelias but others are mauve or purple. 

 Some retain the tight form of the wild kind, and others 

 achieve a certain length of spur and pointed petal. The pure 

 white variety, particularly that named after Miss Jekyll, is so 

 strong that a large percentage can always be trusted to 

 come true to seed. The long-spurred varieties, which come 

 from Siberia and North America, are unfortunately not so 

 easy to grow, but the hybrids of these and the common 

 Columbine are hardy and have the vigour and height which 

 the former often lack. Among the hybrids of the short and 

 long-spurred varieties most beautiful kinds will be found 

 tall blue and white, probably the result of a cross with A. 

 ccerulea or glandulosa white and lemon yellow, cream and 

 pink, etc., all long-spurred and three feet in height. These 

 will all grow in the Wild Garden and few plants are more 

 graceful. 



2F 225 



