MAY IN THE GARDEN 77 



called candidissima. There are some fine pink sorts 

 of garden origin and various other hybrids in cream, 

 lavender, and purple shades. Columbines require a 

 background of green or stonework to be seen at theb' 

 best, and gleam more charmingly in shadowy places 

 than in full sun. They naturalize well in rocky wooded 

 places, and indeed seem more at home in such a situation, 

 for they always appear more wild than garden-bred to 

 me. 



Scarlet Geums have been very gay in the borders 

 these two weeks past. They sound a piercing colour 

 note and are gay and pretty in association with white 

 Flax and lavender Phlox divaricata. There are several 

 fine sorts. G. Heldreichii, bright orange, growing a foot 

 tall, and its variety magnificum a good deal taller; 

 G. minatum var. aurantiacum, strong yellow and of a 

 more compact growth, and the two fine double sorts 

 growing nearly two feet high, G. coccineum, vars. Mrs. 

 Bradshaw, and Glory of Stuttgart. 



There are many minor delights belonging to the first 

 two weeks of May besides those which fell from April's 

 lap and still linger. The Cerastiums trail their soft 

 gray foliage over the stone edgings, Saponaria ocymoides, 

 decorous cousin of disreputable Bouncing Bet of the 

 dusty roadsides, tumbles over the stones in delectable 

 pink cascades, sky-blue Polemonium reptans and rosy 

 Thrifts gaily tuft the edges of the borders, and Lily of 

 the Valley, Periwinkle, and the lacy growth of Sweet 



