My Garden in Spring 



for the large flowers, which when doing well are nearly 

 two inches in diameter. 



I do not believe A. Robinsoniana originated in Ireland, 

 as I have several wild blue forms sent me from Irish woods, 

 and they have all been of ordinary nemorosa type. Mr. 

 Robinson has told me that he first saw his blue Anemone 

 at the foot of a wall in the Oxford Botanic Garden. 

 Baxter, who was then the curator, told him it had been 

 sent to him by a lady in Ireland. 



I think this started the idea of its Irish origin, but 

 of course she may have had it from Norway. I am 

 quite convinced Leeds' Variety is the best of the white 

 forms, but will not say that Robinsoniana is peerless among 

 the blues. For I can never forgive it for closing so readily 

 on dull days and towards evening in a rather sulky, short- 

 tempered way, and then displaying what I can only call 

 a cotton back, a poor greyish-tinted outside not much 

 better than a dirty white. When open its soft, glowing, 

 rosy-lilac flowers are certainly very lovely and a large 

 patch of it glistening with April raindrops in its leaves, 

 but its flowers open to the sunshine, makes one want to 

 cease worrying about weeds and just enjoy the Spring 

 scents and flowers. But A. Allenii has eclipsed it in beauty, 

 being larger in all its parts yet beautifully proportioned, and 

 of a slightly deeper shade of lilac within and flushed with 

 rosy purple on the outside, so that a bud and closed flower 

 are warm, glowing things like snow mountains flushed with 

 a sunset glow, while a closed Robinsoniana is like the 

 effect of death pallor that follows when the light leaves 

 the peaks. 



How Mr. Allen must have enjoyed his first sight of 

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