My Garden in Spring 



some reflected light from the perianth, so that its high 

 lights are almost of the same tone as the main ground- 

 colour of the segments, and the soft lemon-yellow of the 

 trumpet runs out a little at the base of each segment, 

 preventing any sudden break of colour, and I always 

 marvel at the amount of pearly grey in its shadows, 

 especially in the channelling at the sides of the broad 

 central beam of each segment. This beam when present 

 in a Daffodil adds greatly to my delight. It strengthens 

 the lines of the drawing so well, and generally proclaims 

 a firm substance and good lasting quality in the flower. 

 I do not despise Duke of Bedford. It is a fine flower 

 both in the border and cut, but for lingering over, painting, 

 or dining in front of, I prefer the softer blending of lemon 

 and cream of Weardale to the amber and milk of his 

 grace, but both are lovely flowers, and fortunately they 

 may be bought for shillings. 



For a self-yellow trumpet, if there really is such a 

 thing, or near enough to be called one if there is not, 

 Hamlet has proved sturdy and generous with its soft, canary- 

 coloured blossoms, and is one of the earlier flowerers ; as 

 a late one I can recommend The Doctor, a tall, clear yellow 

 ^Esculapius with a hearty, breezy look that must mean a 

 cheery bedside manner. All of which good qualities, save 

 the colour, are typical of the popular physician for whom, 

 as Americans say, it was named, and who I believe is now 

 growing Daffodils as well as he does Sweet Peas. This 

 flower, The Doctor, is very welcome in the garden, in sick- 

 ness or health, as he comes when other big trumpets have 

 given us up (this season he was at his best about the 

 2oth of April), and there is a charm about the long, narrow 

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