TWAYBLADE 



(LISTERA OVATA) 



DAYS IN MY GARDEN 



tiny, ghoulish faces hidden in their flowers ; yet some 

 of the clearer openings are still gay with rich 

 pink campion, and beside the damp path creeps 

 the lowly yellow pimpernel. 



Pale spotted orchids are there with their 



brown-blotched leaves, but these, like the 



honeysuckle, missing in the shade their share 



of sun-paint, lack the rich and varied lilac 



tints with deeper violet markings, seen on a 



host of their fellows, whose pyramids arise 



in the uncut meadow grass, outside the 



wood. 



So also the ladders of quaint twayblade 

 are greener and their flowers have longer 

 lips here in their sunless bower than their 

 more sturdy and brownish-tinged brothers 

 of the open fields. 



The fascination of many of our English 

 orchids is increased by their uncertain habits ; 

 vagrants of beauty, they appear and disappear 

 for reasons known only to themselves ; we seek 

 in vain where we have erstw r hile sought and 

 found them. 



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