THE LILY OF THE VALLEY. 241 



Most of the Boraginaceae are weeds, but they include a few 

 ornamental garden-flowers ; as, for example, the Peruvian 

 heliotrope the "cherry-pie" of the children which is well 

 known for the fragrance of its blue blossoms. Its Greek name 

 refers to an ancient belief that it always " turned " to meet the 

 sun ; but neither heliotrope nor sunflower exhibits any such 

 devotedness towards the great " orb of day." The poet's 

 comparison 



' ' As the sunflower turns to his God, when he sets, 

 The same look that he turned when he rose" 



is very pretty and suggestive, but unfortunately it is not true. 



THE LILIES. 



Are we justified in classing these among our summer 

 flowers ? Well, the lily of the valley may, perhaps, be more 

 justly claimed by Spring, as it generally unveils its beauty in 

 the month of May; but the water-lily belongs to Summer; 

 and, at all events, it will be most convenient to speak of them 

 in this category. 



The lily of the valley ( Convallaria majalis\ the May-lily 

 of old writers, has long been a favourite type of retiring 

 modesty and tender loveliness. It affects the silence and soli- 

 tude of the woodlands, where, in the shadow of broad leaves 

 and sweeping branches, the inquiring botanist discovers 



" Like detected light, 

 Its little green-tipt lamps of white." 



