86 MY GARDEN 



overrated plant, spigelia Marylandica, I come to the 

 little king of this corner, rhododendron hirsutum. He 

 has a pocket of peat and prospers amazingly along- 

 side various bulbs and some plants of daphne cneorum. 

 These bloom and shed extraordinary fragrance once 

 a year; but they ought to do so twice. It is rather 

 too warm for them here, and I contemplate moving 

 them to cooler quarters. Next occur genista humifusa, 

 citysus schipkaensis, from the Shipka Pass, and van- 

 couveria a lovely little gem with foliage somewhat like 

 epimedium, and dainty white flowers on tall stems. 

 Aphyllanthes 1 monspeliensis follows. This last-named 

 plant is perhaps the most interesting in my garden. 

 Upon the ends of its unbranched, rush-like stems 

 occur pure, pale blue blossoms with six petals. Here 

 would seem to be an actual link between juncus and 

 the lily, for aphyllanthes possesses the characteristics 

 of both ; but botanists hold that it belongs properly 

 to neither family. It is unique, and there is but this 

 one species known. Its nearest kin may be sought 

 among boryas, alanias, and laxmannias in Australia by 

 those who have leisure and inclination to do so. I 

 notice a little coldness displayed towards aphyllanthes. 

 Botanists are puzzled by it. They consider it difficult 

 to explain or account for its presence in Europe 

 without a passport. This is ungenerous. If the 

 distinguished creature's appearance in France is not 

 easy to understand, so much the more credit to it 

 for coming. Who knows what immense difficulties 



1 Aphyllanthes. I found the plant pretty generously distributed in the 

 fir woods between Cannes and Grasse. 



