COLOUR IN MY GARDEN 



to attain a more perfect hue. The Italian Alkanet has more 

 the colour of the Gentian, while Opal is many shades lighter. 

 We have Anchusas in splendid association with the old 

 crimson Peony whose colour is so rich and deep; rising like 

 an Italian sky behind a riotous pink garden Rose, in great 

 felicity in front of a mauve-pink Clematis Ville de Lyon, 

 among free-growing white' Roses and gleaming Lemon 

 Lilies, and in many another happy combination. 



Not long after the appearance of the Anchusa the 

 Delphinium comes to outshine it in colour and form. Of all 

 blue flowers these are the most lovely. There is no period 

 of the year when the garden is so exuberantly beautiful as 

 that when there are climbing, tumbling, reaching Roses in 

 all directions and spires and spires of Delphiniums gleaming 

 against them or shooting upward like jets of blue flame 

 to touch the fragrant sprays above. Every year there are 

 many named varieties put forth by various nurseries. A 

 modest gardener could not hope to keep up with them and 

 it matters little, for a single packet of seed purchased of a 

 reliable house will fill one's every desire for blueness. 

 Those of the Belladonna type seem to me the loveliest. 

 Cliveden Beauty is particularly conspicuous for its ex- 

 quisite sky-blue colour and its grace of stalk, and others as 

 lovely are Mrs. Thomson, Persimmon, Capri, and Mrs. J. S. 

 Boonton, all with the satisfying colour and graceful habit 

 of Belladonna. Other fine sorts are Lize van Veen (Cam- 

 bridge blue), Queen Wilhelmina (pure sky blue), Mrs. 

 Creighten, The Alaak (violet blue), and Somerset. 



I have never seen Delphiniums poorly placed, they seem 

 so to grace every situation as to make inharmony im- 



135 



