i8o THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



Landor has thus expressed what the delicious 

 honeysuckle makes us feel. 



"The monthly honeysuckle," writes Celia Thax- 

 ter, "is most divine. Such vigor of growth I have 

 never seen in any other plant. It climbs the trellis 

 on my piazza and spreads its superb clusters of 

 flowers from time to time all summer. Each cluster 

 is a triumph of beauty, flat in the center and curving 

 out to the blossoming edge in joyous lines of loveli- 

 ness, most like a wreath of heavenly trumpets 

 breathing melodies of perfume to the air. Each 

 trumpet of lustrous white deepens to a yellower tint 

 in the center where the small ends meet; each blos- 

 som where it opens at the lips is tipped with fresh 

 pink; each sends out a group of long stamens from 

 its slender throat like rays of light; and the whole 

 circle of radiant flowers has an effect of gladness 

 and glory indescribable: the very sight of it lifts 

 and refreshes the human heart. And for its odor, 

 it is like the spirit of romance, sweet as youth's 

 tender dreams. It is summer's very soul." 



Enchanting season of fern and honeysuckle, per- 

 fumed stars that shine through green leaves and 

 bells that send forth peals of incense instead of 

 sound ! 



