190 FROM A MIDDLESEX GARDEN 



clover ; on the borders of the rushy river, among the tall and 

 stately flowers and reeds, now at the zenith of their beauty 

 and gracefulness, the dragon-flies silently hover ; over the tall 

 golden and silver umbels of many of the umbellifer<e, sulphur- 

 coloured butterflies and gaily painted insects creep, while from 

 the limes the tufts of faded winged blossoms fall whirling to 

 earth in the dazzling sunlight ; these and a thousand and one 

 little insignificant instances which go towards the making of 

 Summer one notices, each in itself a perfect picture, a world 

 of wonder. 



In this hot breathless day my thoughts often turn to the 

 cool cliffs by the sea, where so many of our most beautiful 

 British flowers are now to be found. Some of them would 

 indeed be welcome additions to our inland gardens if they 

 would but grow in their own natural way, very perfections of 

 loveliness. There is the beautiful Dyer's rocket (Reseda 

 luteola)^ the pretty milkwort (Polygala vu/garis), and the 

 scentless mignonette (R. lutea), that love to hide or nestle 

 among the heaths and ling, now at their best, and none of the 

 latter are more beautiful than Erica tetralix. 



It is joy to walk by the sea in these calm days, whose 

 quietness is but a prelude to the stormy hours that are waiting 

 not far distant ; to watch the grey gulls hover over the white 

 foam-fringe of the incoming tide, or to walk by the sea- 

 gardens where gaudy butterflies with glittering wings frolic 

 amid the bright lobelia ! 



