354 THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 



and a new meaning is given the blue flower; the 

 black shadows disappear from its depth and sky 

 reflections replace them. 



The blue- fringed gentian, growing deep among the 

 dark grasses of low meadows, may be passed over 

 without enthusiasm as a dull purplish flower by one 

 to whom its possibilities are unknown; but come 

 upon it backgrounded by Michaelmas daisies or 

 standing alone in a meadow thick strewn with the 

 white stars of grass of Parnassus or wands of crystal 

 ladies' tresses, and all at once it becomes, 



"Blue, blue, as if the sky let fall 

 A flower from its cerulean wall ! " 



The same white setting enhances the brighter colours, 

 though in a less degree than blue, which is, next to 

 magenta, one of the most difficult colours to place in 

 the garden. In view of this fact it is not strange that 

 it is a comparatively unusual hue in the flower world 

 and a very rare one among our neighbourly eastern 

 birds, the only three that wear it conspicuously being 

 the bluebird, indigo bird, and the bluejay. 



It is this useful quality as a setting that gives value 

 to many white flowers lacking intrinsic beauty, like 

 sweet alyssum, candy-tuft, the yarrows, and the double 

 feverfew. In buying seeds of flowers in mixed varie- 



