10 THE WILD GARDEN. 



shrubbery walks ! Nature, say some, is sparing of her deep 

 true bhies ; but there are obscure plants in this order that 

 possess the truest, deepest, and most delicate of blues, and 

 whicli will thrive as well in the wild garden as common weeds. 

 The creeping Omphalodes verna even surpasses the Forget- 

 me-not in the depth and Ijeauty of its blue and its other 

 good qualities, and runs about quite freely in any shady or 

 lialf-shady shrubbery or open wood, or even in turf in moist 

 soil not very frequently mown. Its proper home is the wood 

 or semi-wild spot, where it takes care of itself. I'ut it in a 

 garden, and probably, unless the soil and region be moist, it 

 soon perishes. Besides, in the border, it would be a not very 

 agreeable object when once the sweet s])ring bloom had passed ; 

 wliereas, in the positions spoken of, in consequence of the 

 predominance of trees, shrubs, atid tall herl)s, the low plants 

 are not noticed when out of flower, but crawl about unob- 

 served till returning spring reminds those fortunate enough 

 to see them how superior is the inexpensive and natural kind 

 of gardening here advocated. 



Another plant of the order is so suitable and useful for this 

 ])urpose, that if a root or two of it be planted in any shrubbery, 

 it will soon run about, exterminate the weeds, and prove 

 (piite a lesson in wild gardening. I allude to the Caucasian 

 Comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum), which grows about twenty 

 inches high, and bears quantities of the loveliest blue pen- 

 dulous flowers. It, like many others, does much better in 

 a wood, grove, or any kind of shrubbery, than in any other 

 position, filling in the naked spaces betw^een the trees and 

 sliruljs, and has a quick-growing and spreading tendency, but 

 never becomes weedy or objectionable. As if to contrast 



