COLOUR IN MY GARDEN 



admitted, it is not long before "indent with azure is many 

 a fold" of the garden, for the Flax is a hardy and persistent 

 self-sower. The flowering of the Flax continues long, and 

 all the while the work of seeding and distribution is going 

 on at a great rate, and each year we are enchanted by its 

 latest whims of association. This spring I found the feathery 

 seedlings springing up all through a stretch of Iris Innocenza 

 and when the two flowered late in May — the fluttering sky- 

 blue blossoms among the thick-petalled, pure white Iris — I 

 thought I had never seen anything so fresh and pretty. 



Sometimes there will be a gay colony in the garden path 

 at the foot of a retaining wall where Flax and California 

 Poppies have foregathered in blithe haphazardy; next sum- 

 mer this will not be, but over the way a blue haze will 

 underlie the sunshine of the Lemon Lilies, or my garden 

 steps will tremble into blue from every joint and crevice. 



One of the prettiest associations that came about by ac- 

 cident but is now permanently established is where Flax 

 grows among the jaunty Spanish Poppy (P. rupifragum). 

 They both have a grand blossoming for nearly two months 

 in the spring and early summer and then for the rest of the 

 season give little snatches of gay colour now and then. 

 The Spanish Poppy is especially persistent, opening an 

 occasional frail blossom right up to freezing weather. 



The Narbon Flax (Linum narbonense) is perhaps a little 

 more delightful even than Linum perenne. It is a trifle 

 more substantial in appearance, a shade bluer, and its 

 wide eyes face the sun all day long, not closing in the 

 provoking way of the other in the middle of the day, but 

 unfortunately it is somewhat less reliable. It is not quite 



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