182 HIGHLAND WILD FLOWERS 



that of ' bluebell ' to denote the wood hyacinth instead 

 of the harebell. Botanically the distinctive feature of 

 heather is the calyx, the segments of which are as long 

 as the corolla and of the same colour ; whereas in the 

 heaths the calyx is very short and the colour effect is 

 derived entirely from the inflated corolla. 



The exquisite effect of this little natural parterre in 

 Helms dale makes one speculate why, among all the 

 phases through which horticulture has passed and is 

 passing, it does not occur to anybody to arrange a 

 border planted only with British wild flowers. It 

 might vie in brightness and variety with any collection 

 of exotics, and by creating a distinct feature of interest, 

 would redeem any garden from the besetting snare of 

 sameness. It would not be difficult to prepare a list 

 of native herbs to hold their own in competition with 

 the flowers of other lands. 1 Here, then, is a suggestion 

 a geographical garden, arranged in compartments 

 corresponding to the principal countries of the 

 Temperate Zone. In two colours, indeed, the United 

 Kingdom would be at a disadvantage, namely, scarlet 

 and orange, for the corn poppy and the little scarlet 

 pimpernel are the only British wild flowers that display 

 the first of these colours ; and the sole representative 

 of the second is the orange variety of the Welsh poppy 

 (Meconopsis cambrica), unless the orange hawkweed 

 (Hieracium aurantiacum) may be granted letters of 

 naturalisation. In other hues, we need fear no rival. 



1 I have prepared such a list of 275 British flowering shrubs and 

 herbs suitable for ornamental gardening. [Scottish Gardens, pp. 

 229-252]. 



