98 AN ISLAND GARDEN 



a low vase shaped like a Magnolia flower, with 

 petals of light yellow deepening in color at the 

 bottom, where its calyx of olive-green leaves clasps 

 the flower. This has looking over its edge a few 

 pale yellow Nasturtiums of the Asa Gray variety, 

 the lightest of all. With these, one or two of a 

 richer yellow (Dunnett's Orange), the flowers re- 

 peating the tones of the vase, and with them 

 harmoniously blending. A large pearly shell of 

 the whelk tribe was given me years ago. I did 

 not know what to do with it. I do not like flowers 

 in shells as a rule, and I think the shells are best 

 on the beach where they belong, but I was fond 

 of the giver, so I sought some way of utilizing the 

 gift. In itself it was beautiful, a mass of glim- 

 mering rainbows. I bored three holes in its edge 

 and suspended it from one of the severely simple 

 chandeliers with almost invisible wires. I keep 

 it filled with water and in it arrange sometimes 

 clusters of monthly Honeysuckle sparingly; the 

 hues of the flowers and the shell mingle and- blend 

 divinely. I get the same effect with Hydrangea 

 flowers, tints and tones all melt together ; so also 

 with the most delicate Sweet Peas, white, rose, and 

 lilac; with these I take some lengths of the 

 blossoming Wild Cucumber vine with its light 

 clusters of white flowers, or the white Clematis, 

 the kind called " Traveler's Joy," and weave it 

 lightly about the shell, letting it creep over one 

 side and, running up the wires, entirely conceal 

 them ; then it is like a heavenly apparition afloat 

 in mid air. Sometimes the tender mauve and 

 soft rose and delicate blues of the exquisite little 



