192 MY GARDEN 



Nierembergia rivularis, from La Plata, wanders with 

 the last plant and enjoys similar conditions. Other 

 nierembergias are more beautiful, but I have only 

 this variety with white, yellow-eyed bells. There is 

 no better surface plant for a cool corner, but slugs 

 will go on long pilgrimages to come at it. The lilac 

 nierembergia of Veitch must be a fine thing, but I 

 know it not. Galax aphylla is here too, and flowers 

 well in spring-time with gaultheria Shallon, whose 

 bloom is like his grand relation the arbutus, and 

 whose purple berries are said to make excellent tarts. 

 It may be so, but my solitary specimen, with all the 

 will in the world, cannot produce harvests large 

 enough for such a considerable experiment. 



An interesting plant, quite out of place, has grown 

 alongside galax this year and made a large shrub. 

 This is lopezia racemosa, so familiar to those who 

 visit the Riviera. I take cuttings and keep the 

 lopezia, for winter slays it presently. In a pot 

 it flowers freely during the spring. "To the philo- 

 sophic mind, not captivated with mere show, the 

 flowers of this plant," says Curtis, "will afford a 

 most delicious treat." Rather more than a hundred 

 years ago it arrived at the Apothecaries' Garden, 

 Chelsea, from Mexico through Madrid. To the 

 botanist it presents a fascinating theme for inquiry ; 

 while the flower-lover sees bright, rose-coloured 

 racemes of cheerful inflorescence above good green 

 leaves of the habit somewhat of enchanter's night- 

 shade. But lopezia is really not of much use out of 

 doors with me, though in full sun I think it would 



