92 THE STORY OF MY ROCK GARDEN 



of the garden, springing from a carpet of evergreen, 

 such as Arenaria or Sedum, often accompanied by 

 Eranthis hyemalis the little Winter Aconite, with 

 its bright yellow flowers and fresh green leaves. 



Before many days are passed Narcissus Bulbocodium 

 monophyllus, as shown on page 96, keeps them company; 

 the delicate white flowers of this choice little daffodil 

 look strangely fairy-like in this dead time of the year. 



It is difficult at any time from December to March 

 to find that pretty little shrub, Daphne Mezereum, 

 without a few of its sessile pink blossoms upon the 

 bare branches, and often during mild intervals it is 

 quite gay. 



It is not unusual, when Christmas has been pre- 

 ceded by a mild period, to find a few heads of rich 

 purple flowers upon Primula capitata, while here and 

 there, the common primrose, in odd corners, is ever 

 ready to give us a touch of colour. Snowdrops, too, 

 generally push up their choice flowers at this time, 

 though but sparingly Galanthus Elwesii usually being 

 among the first while upon the gritty portion of 

 the rockery, devoted to Saxifrages, that gem of the 

 encrusted section, 5. Gricscbachii, and its near ally 

 S. Stribnryi are beginning to protrude their centres, 

 and- becoming daily more and more crimson. The 

 former of these two, especially, is delightfully attractive 

 all through the winter, often beginning to rise in early 



