Leaves from a Madeira Garden 



I have appended to this chapter a list of 

 treeSj shrubs, and plants which we have observed 

 to be in flower on Christmas Day this year in 

 our own garden, which is situate about two 

 hundred feet above the level of the sea, and 

 about a quarter of a mile from it. It will 

 perhaps surprise some that such a range of 

 blossom may be met with in mid-winter at a 

 distance of eighty hours' steaming from our 

 shores. Owing to the copious rains which have 

 happily fallen during the autumn, everything 

 this year is looking its best, and the growth of 

 tree and shrub since last spring is surprising. 

 At this season no floral feature of the island 

 approaches in glory the Bignonia venusta^ " the 

 Golden Shower." Of the most luxuriant 

 growth, it is ramping everywhere over wall 

 and pergola and trellice, and its leaves are 

 almost hidden in the wealth of its orange 

 flowers. Crimson Poinsettias^ white 'Daturas^ 

 blue-grey Plumbago make a notable trio, magni- 

 ricent in combination. Hedychium gardnerianum 

 is over, but its orange seed-pods are a hand- 

 some feature. The great single Hibiscus bears 

 aloft its fine red blossoms, individually a flower 

 unsurpassed for symmetry and beauty. Irises 



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