246 THE ALPINE FLORA 



Heaths, mediterranean Cistus, and the whole family of 

 Ericaceae, from the Australian Pernettya to the arctic 

 Phyllodoce. Associated with these flowers the Greek 

 Acanthus, Artichokes and Cardoons, welcome for their 

 glorious blue heads of bloom as much as for their orna- 

 mental foliage ; Onopordons, in particular the marvellous 

 Asiatic species bracteatum, whose dead-silver leaves and 

 glistening thorns, rising in this northern landscape, give 

 to it a touch of characteristic southern heat. The nobly 

 habited blue Thistles of the Old World (Eryngium 

 alpinum, amethystinum, Bourgati, giganteum, maritimum, 

 planum, etc.) confront in proud magnificence their rela- 

 tives from America, so poor in grace and so dingy of 

 hue. Such is the wonderful frame within which a motley 

 multitude of choicest perennials, rivals in brilliance and 

 charming elegance, Monardas, Veronicas, Delphiniums, 

 Scabious, Salvias, Columbines, Asters, Centaureas, 

 Rudbeckias, Silphiums, Leucanthemums, Penstemons, 

 Lychnis, etc., make a vast flowery paradise to which the 

 shimmering irridescence of the tiny alpine plants, the 

 Gentians, Ranunculus, the Primulas, SoldaneJJas, Edel- 

 weiss and Myosotis lend their clear, pure tones. Here 

 and there boldly rise cool and shady masses of shrubs 

 from every climate, hardy Fuchsias, Cotoneasters, 

 Hortensias, Spiraeas, Laurels (unfortunately not frost- 

 proof at Geneva) and a whole miscellaneous world of 

 fragrance and of bloom. The garden is Lord and Lady 

 Henry's favourite hobby ; they have designed and built 

 it with the assistance of a head-gardener, who bears the 

 time-honoured name of Miller 1 , and spends much time 

 and pains upon it. 



* Miller, an English botanist, gardener and writer, was author or 

 several books, of which one, the Gardener's and "Florist's Dictionary (1724) 

 is still a standard work. 



