A DESCRIPTION OF MY GARDEN 103 



and where the soil is in no way specially good, rise the 

 myriad tapering lavender spikes of Veronica gentianoides 

 and its variegated form, while under the lee of some 

 sheltering rock, in complete shade, and rising from the 

 bronzy green leaves, often ranging to rich crimson, the 

 lovely crimped edged flowers of Shortia galacifolia 

 gleam in their satin-like surface and faint pink flush. 

 I find almost pure peat, with a little sand and perpetual 

 moisture, in addition to the shade already alluded to, 

 necessary for this lovely plant. 



On the moraine, Campanula excisa is scrambling 

 about among the chips, while if we are fortunate, 

 Eritrichium nanum rejoices us with its brilliant though 

 diminutive flowers, and as we look at it, our thoughts 

 wander to the hundred to one chances against this 

 sweet little visitor being with us this time next year ! 



June in the Rock Garden 1 The words seem to 

 suggest to the Alpine gardener a veritable rainbow of 

 floral pigments. One's whole nature expands with 

 happiness as we drink in the sweet perfumes, and 

 appreciate the galaxy of colour with which the garden 

 is flooded. Colours so soft and dainty, like those of 

 Androsace sarmentosa, held aloft from their shaggy 

 rosettes of leaves, Asperula suberosa with its wee pink 

 trumpets, through the ever swelling note given by 

 Aquilegia ccerulea and A. chrysantha to Dianthus 

 deltoides and the golden radiance of Hypericum fragile, 



