54 WILD FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND 



to select the shade and rich depths of southern 

 woodlands. 



A closer acquaintance with its true nature shows 

 the preference to be rather strange than otherwise. 

 So far from being delicate, it is one of the hardiest 

 of wild flowers ; so far from being a shy woodland 

 plant, it has no objection to stare the sun in the 

 face. 



The lily of the valley can, on occasion, become 

 the lily of the mountain. Travellers to Norway 

 find it growing in great abundance on bare rocks, 

 near the perpetual snow-line. 



Like many another, it may have come too late 

 to the edge of the channel, and been debarred 

 from crossing by the inflowing of the water. 

 Afterward, it may have been introduced into 

 English woods, mainly through the gardens ; and 

 much about the same time to the banks of the 

 Tay. Nor are these the only gifts we owe to 

 the monks; nor the rarest flowers that grow, or 

 grew but yesterday, around the old monastery of 

 Balmerino. 



