$3) The Scented Qarden ^ 



stems and feathery tufts of leaves and reminding one of 

 the monastic herb-gardens where this herb was grown in 

 abundance to eat with fish on fast days. In one corner is 

 an elder tree, and one recalls that if one stands near 

 Mother Elder at midnight on midsummer's eve one sees 

 the King of the Elves and all his train go by. The hedge 

 enclosing this peaceful sanctuary is of rosemary, and at 

 the end of the broad centre-path is a sundial which looks 

 as though it had not only lived with the same family for 

 generations but as though it had also been loved by them 

 and shared their joys and sorrows. The kindly herbs have 

 long since made it welcome and with them it seems to 

 have some secret understanding. 



Lavender holds pride of place amongst sweet-smelling 

 herbs, and what more pleasant than gathering armfuls 

 of its scented blooms on a sunny day ? The dwarf 

 lavenders are charming for edging, but they have not the 

 same sweet scent. The beautiful white lavender with its 

 pearl-like flowers is, however, just as strongly scented as 

 the mauve. It is rather delicate and one rarely sees a 

 large bush of it. It cannot endure exposure to cold 

 winds, but in these parts it survived the bitterly cold 

 winter of 1928 when many 'hardy' plants suc- 

 cumbed. In olden days they made lavender-scented 

 sugar by pounding the lavender flowers with three times 

 their weight of sugar. The author of The Queen's Closet 

 Opened (1655), who was cook to Queen Henrietta Maria, 

 says that this ' conserve ' would keep a year. The same 

 author gives a recipe for lavender wine made by putting 

 two ounces of lavender flowers into a bottle of sack with 

 three ounces of sugar candy, ' and shake it oft, then run 

 it through a jelly bag, and give it for a great cordiall after 

 140 



