110 GARDEN PLANNING AND PLANTING 



our truest of all winter blossoms. Finally the Crown Imperials are] 

 carpeted by Yellow Aconite. 



Daphne mezereuin is not known as it should be; it would be 

 worth cultivating for its scent alone, but its blossom, closely furled | 

 round leafless branches, is one of the very fairest that February can 

 claim. The yellow Daphne is variable as to time of flowering. Pyrus 

 japonica is obtainable in blush- white, as well as in the red and rose 

 provided in the plan, and it never looks better than when irregularly 

 trained against a trellis formed of lichened branches. The Fire Thorn 

 does better nailed against a fence. If the border is backed by fence or 

 wall, and faces south, as it should do, the climbing Winter Sweet 

 (Chimonanthus fragrans) should give quaint, brownish, sweet- 

 scented blossoms during December, while pendent purple trusses 

 should show on that unfamiliar climber Lardizabala biternata. Prob- 

 ably Lonicera fragrantissima will consent also to delight visitors by 

 its perfumed white blooms, so fit for sprays and buttonholes. 

 There is a Heath, Erica carnea, flesh-coloured, and over a foot tall, 

 that begins in February ; the Glad win Iris will not be in blossom, 

 but will be richly adorned by its red-seeded fruits ; Winter Heliotrope 

 (Petasites fragrans) will send up palest lilac sprays of delicious 

 fragrance, that look perfect arranged with Christmas Roses, and 

 the azure blue of the Algerian Iris should be visible. 



February again ushers in the Megasea's cheerful pink spikes, that 

 harmonise with the rose and blue Hepaticas ; more elegant still is 

 the white Corfu Lily. At the back of the border a small tree, 

 Prunus Pissardi, will give ruby foliage, and white blossom set along 

 crimson stems ; the old favourite Berberry is sure to show warm 

 leaf tints. A front-row low edging will serve to show off some small 

 Saxifrages and Sedums : in addition to these evergreens we may use 

 variegated Arabis and Aubrietia, mingling Crocuses, Snowdrops, and 

 blue Scilla and Chionodoxa among them. 



