APPARITION TIDE. 133 



MAY 12. St. Flavia Domitilla, v. m. a.d. 

 SS. Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs. 

 St. Pancras, martyr, 304. 

 St. Epiphanius, bish. and conf. 403. 

 St. Germanus, bishop, 773. 

 St. Rictrudes, abbess, 688. 



Obs. St. Flavia Domitilla and other zealous Christians were 

 banished by Domiiian into a little isle on the coast of Terracina, 

 called Pontia. Their acts say that they were afterwards beheaded 

 at Tarracina under Trajan. 



German Flower de Luce Iris Germanica flowers. 

 Pale Piony Paeonia officinalis Jiore ipalido flowers. 

 Motherwort Hesperis matronalis flowers. 

 Scentless Motherwort Hesperis inodora flowers. 



The German Flower de Luce is an old inliabitant of our gardens ; about 

 London we have often known it in blow by St. Mark's Day, but today appears 

 by a comparison of journals to be the avera!>e day of its flowerinff in the coun- 

 try ; for some reHSon or other this plant flowers a fortniL'ht sooner in the warm 

 suburbs of the city. It is one of the earliest species of this numerous genus, 

 the rest for the most part beini; solstitial plants, blowing" in the month ot June. 

 We remember the great punctuality of this plant to its time for a series of 

 years at Waltliamstow. It is succeeded by the Florentine Iris, whicli blows a 

 few days later. The name of Iris is given to this genus from the nuances of 

 colour exhibited in the petals. In the antient "Summer's Song" we read: 



Iris showers her painted woof 

 Of variegated hues, wind proof. 

 But these lines may perhaps apply to the Pseudacorus, to be described 

 hereafter. 



The Pale Piony is a pale pink variety of the common one, but it flowers with 

 us a few days before it, and retains its petals longer. 



The Wallflower is now out of blow in our forward gardens, but is still to be 

 seen on walls, roofs, and waste places. Bernard Barton has the following 

 lines on it: 



To a Tf'allflover. 



To me thy scite disconsolate. 



On turret, wall, or tower, 

 Makes thee appear Misfortune's mate, 



And Desolation's dower. 

 Thou ask'st no kindly cultured soil 



Thy natal bed to be ; 

 Thou need'st not man's oflicious toil 



To plant or water thee. 

 Soviu by the winds, thou meekly rearest 



On ruin's crumi)lins; crest, 

 Thy fragile form ; and there appearest 



In smiling beauty di est. 

 There, in iliy bleak and carthless bed, • 



Thou brav'^t the tempest's strife ; 

 And t'iv'st, what else were cold and dead, 



A lingering glow of life. 



N 



