A GARDEN OF DELIGHT 185 



and marvelled at the skill that had produced 

 so perfect and restful a harmony. 



Even yesterday a totally new phase of this 

 dear garden was revealed to me ; for the wild 

 Lent Lilies were in full flower. Sheets of pale 

 gold spread under the great leafless Oak trees 

 in the Wild garden, and up the steep slopes of 

 the copse. And outside the confines of the 

 garden, in the farther wood where the under- 

 growth has been cut this winter, the delicate 

 flowers rose in millions a never-to-be-forgotten 

 vision of beauty in the hot April sun ; while 

 among them white Wood-anemones lay in 

 snowdrifts, and the glossy leaves of Bluebells 

 that will soon take their place were already 

 pushing up through the soil. But tame as 

 well as wild delights were there. For passing 

 the mats of double white Arabis pierced with 

 intense blue of Scilla Sibirica beneath the Pear 

 arcade, we came in the Wild garden upon a 

 plantation of magnificent white Hyacinths set 

 off by the red shoots of Tree Poeonies among 

 them ; and just beyond, scores of the exquisite 

 little Primula rosea in full bloom were revelling 



