Of course in the north we must be satisfied with 

 more or less miniature bushes, for we cannot have 

 the variety which grows to tree height in the south. 

 The most wonderful flower spectacle in our whole 

 country is the azaleas in full bloom in " Magnolia 

 Gardens," near Charleston, exceeding even the cherry 

 blossom festival in Japan. Here miles of avenues 

 bordered with very old and gigantic azaleas of every 

 hue, make a gorgeousness of color bewildering to the 

 senses. 



In the north we may grow several varieties out- 

 doors by covering with straw in winter, as for rose 

 protection. These are the native arborescens; the 

 Ghent, growing to eighteen inches; mollis, a rather 

 dwarf species, and Vaseyi. They are to be had in 

 white, orange, rosy purple, shrimp pink, cerise, light 

 pink and salmon. 



All gardens should include the old-fashioned 

 " sweet shrub," called " calycanthus " by the nursery- 

 men, apparently to confuse us. The bush bearing 

 snuff-brown flowers is the best known, but there is 

 another rarer, much lovelier kind called the banana 

 shrub, which has blossoms of a pale cream yellow 

 and of a sweetness beyond description. Gathered 

 and placed in a thin muslin bag and put among one's 

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