COLOR HARMONIES 



Derby. The full trusses of this superb flower 

 made the most lovely companions for the just- 

 about-to-fade crocus. How can I adequately de- 

 scribe the color of Lord Derby ! Never, no never, 

 in the words of one of the Dutch growers, who 

 calmly says, "Porcelain blue, back heavenly blue." 

 May I venture to ask the reader what impression 

 these words convey to him? To me they are as 

 sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. They mean 

 nothing. From my own observation of the hya- 

 cinth, I should say that its blue, in the early stages 

 of development, has a certain iridescent quality 

 which makes it uncommonly interesting, almost 

 dazzling when seen beyond the green of the fresh 

 grass of May; and in full bloom it shines out 

 with a half-deep tone of purplish blue. Crocus 

 purpureus, var. grandiflorus, blooms with this hya- 

 cinth; the two tones of purple are distinct from 

 each other and extremely interesting together. 



Is, or is not, Puschkinia little known? How 

 distinct it is from most of the smaller spring 

 things, and how lovely in itself with its tiny bluish- 

 white bells, pencilled with another deeper tone of 

 blue! And so rewarding, coming up valiantly 

 year after year, without encouragement of the 

 compost or replanting! A little colony of it is 



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