Magnolia below Magnolia stellata. Its large full-blue heads open in 
Stellata March and last through April. Unfortunately hundreds of 
and Grape bulbs are needed to make any effect, or one would gladly have 
Hyacinths 
large stretches of them, beginning with the lovely sky-blue 
azureum in February, and continuing with the common 
botryoides, in white as well as blue, and the larger conicum. 
There are still better sorts, but they are also dearer. Heavenly 
Blue is a good colour, and only advances to six shillings a 
hundred, but the Greek Grape Hyacinth, He/dreichii—a large 
pale blue—and szovitsianum—an exquisite pale shade show- 
ing a distinct white toothed edge—are six shillings a dozen, 
and in most gardens can only be treated as treasures for the 
rock-garden. All the kinds look particularly well with 
Daffodils, and the paler the shade of the Daffodil the better 
will be the effect. 
But other effects besides the blue of Grape Hyacinth should 
be tried with the striking Magnolia bushes which are such a 
feature in the early part of the year. Among bulbs there 
is a large choice—all the early Daffodils and Tulips are 
out, so that a carpet of any colour can be chosen. The 
blue of Anemone apennina would look well beneath them, 
with the early Pheasant Eye ormatus planted among it; or 
the exquisite duemone Pulsatilla, with its silver-haired, mauve 
flowers, and golden centre open to the sun, could not find a 
better home, as it grows well near bushes, and through it 
could be planted white Fritillaries; or a pink carpet could 
be made of Dog’s-tooth Violets or of the little evergreen 
Daphne Cneorum, and its sweet-scented, rose-coloured flowers. 
This is well worth a place to itself, on the sunny side of the 
Magnolia, with a few stones over which to trail. D. Blagayana 
112 
