But the high-light of the bulb beds now is Romtilea sabulosa. 

 Every year I marvel at it afresh such a tiny plant with such a 

 big bloom ; and the colour ! I have no idea how to describe 

 the colour neither pink nor red, rose nor cerise, gives any 

 idea of it, and the texture is such that light appears to shimmer 

 over it, to be reflected from its gleaming surface. It is one of 

 nature's most personal gifts just to have seen it adds to one's 

 stature. - 



In the kloof garden there are great glowing spikes of aloes, 

 dozens and dozens of them, and the brilliant green and blue 

 malachite sugar-birds are busy sucking the honey, incidentally 

 making a gorgeous colour contrast. 



The first blooms of Protea cynarotdes are out. The heads are 

 about 1 foot across the outside, bracts a lovely rose-pink and 

 the centres filled with lemon yellow florets. The seeds of them 

 sown in April are just coming through, but very slowly ; how 

 eagerly I watch the seed beds for them and for Leucospermum 

 reflexum \ Such a waiting list for plants, and such poor germi- 

 nation : such are the trials of the nurseryman ! 



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