126 ALPINE FLOWERS AND ROCK GARDENS. 



Alpina is a mountain plant, and although less 

 brilliant than many of the species, is worth a place on 

 the rockery. It blooms in spring, when it bears white 

 flowers with a bluish exterior. It is a decided lime- 

 lover, and is one of the numerous plants which thrive 

 best when limestone grit or broken chalk is mixed with 

 the soil. It may be raised from seed in spring, or old 

 plants may be divided in autumn. 



Angulosa is a large blue species with quinate (five- 

 lobed) leaves, resembling the famihar Hepatica. It 

 thrives in ordinary soil, blooms in spring, and may be 

 propagated by division. Apennina is often met with 

 in a wild state in Britain, but that makes it none 

 the less desirable as a cultivated plant. It is truly 

 Alpine, and its beautiful blue flowers, produced early 

 in spring, make it a real gem of the rock garden. It is, 

 of course, quite hardy, and will thrive in ordinary soil. 

 Piopagation is by division in autumn. 



Blanda, a Grecian plant, is as much to be coveted as 

 Apennina J which it generally precedes in flower. It is 

 quite a dwarf species, and there are few plants better 

 adapted to rockery culture. It is, indeed, a floral jewel 

 of the closing stages of winter and the early days of 

 spring. It is not a fastidious plant, and may be grown 

 successfully on the limestone. It does not care for a 

 stiff wet soil. It may be planted, or propagated by 

 division when occasion arises, in autumn. A special 

 mark might be set against this deHghtful Httle plant 

 as one that should have a place of honour everywhere. 



The Poppy or Crown Anemone, coronaria^ is assuredly 

 one of the most beautiful of all the Windflowers. and. 



