A DESCRIPTION OF MY GARDEN 115 



The chief charm of December is, however, the 

 transformation, often during a single night, caused by 

 the fairy fingers of the hoar frost. 



The most humble fragments of withered foliage and 

 seed stems become edged with ropes of glittering 

 facets, while the lime spots of the encrusted saxifrages 

 seem to have a special attraction for the hoar frost, 

 where the crystals arrange themselves upon the leaves 

 like fringes of silver. Old seed stems of many of the 

 Sedums assume a beauty rivalling the hey-day of their 

 flowering season, and take on the aspect of pieces of 

 coral. The illustration on page 16 gives some idea 

 of these frost " flowers/' while when the kindly curtain 

 of mist comes down to soften the outlines of surrounding 

 houses, left painfully bare by the falling leaves of 

 Autumn, the decorative touch of the hoar frost is still 

 more appreciated. 



The reproduction on page 113 gives some idea of a 

 December day in my garden- when the glittering 

 jewels of the frost, which have been deposited with 

 such a lavish hand on everything, are reflecting the 

 light in a myriad dancing points ; and to my mind, 

 make a fitting close to a year which has been one 

 continuous stream of loveliness and joy. 



