VILLA GARDENS EAST OF FUNCHAL 43 



described elsewhere, and had no very imposing 

 scheme to start with. 



The entrance to the garden leads one to expect 

 a wealth of flowers in the garden below, as a vision 

 of pink begonias with a profusion of blossom, tall 

 feathery bamboos, and long hanging ferns, greets 

 the eye at the very door. On the terrace in front 

 of the house stands one of the finest wistarias. It 

 clothes the whole wall, makes a purple canopy to 

 the corridor, climbs up the square pillars, and has 

 even taken possession of the flagstaff, so in the early 

 days of April the whole air is filled with its deli- 

 cate bean-like scent. The beauty of its blossoms 

 is short-lived, and possibly for this reason is all the 

 more appreciated. A few short days and the heat 

 of the sun will have taken all the colour out of its 

 purple tassels, the leaves will begin to appear, and 

 all its glory is departed. Some of the winter- 

 flowering creepers last in beauty so long for weeks 

 or almost months such as the bougainvilleas 

 and Signonia venustus, that if such a thing were 

 possible, one becomes almost wearied of their 

 beauty, and passes them by almost unnoticed. 

 But with wistaria it is different : it must be 

 noticed and appreciated at once or not at all, as the 

 colour changes and fades with every passing hour. 



62 



