218 



MY GARDEN. 



almost but not quite hardy. When grown in a greenhouse, it is very 

 beautiful ; but out of doors the frosts injure it, and make it appear a 

 poor woe-begone plant. 



About the end of May the Ixias (fig. 416) are most lovely flowers, 

 but they are difficult to grow, because they are impatient of confine- 

 ment and require protection. One year, when they were carefully 

 looked after, my plants made a grand display. The secret of success 

 is to give plenty of air, and yet protect the plants from frost. They 



will hardly live out of doors in the climate of my 



garden. 



FIG. 417. Iris. 



FIG. 416. Ixin. 



FIG. 418. Gladiolus 



In May, the Iris ("Iris of all hues") is a fine flower. The wild 

 yellow species is beautiful beside our water, but there are numerous 

 varieties of the Iris germanica (fig. 417), as well as of the English Iris 

 and Spanish Iris: these I have grown besides those species which 

 are gems for the alpinery, and which are described amongst the other 

 alpine plants. 



In autumn the last bulb of all, the blossom of which lights up the 

 flower-border, is the glorious Gladiolus (fig. 418), of two or three species. 

 A brilliant scarlet variety is the BrencJileyensis. In the vicinity of Paris, 

 near St. Germain, this flower is much cultivated in many varieties : 

 I have brought them from that place. They multiplied rapidly, but 

 were ultimately lost from inattention in winter. They require to be 

 taken up in October and carefully housed away from the frost, and 



