PERENNIAL PLANTS. 



225 



" Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, 

 Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her 

 The flowery May, who from her green lap throws 

 The yellow cowslip, and the pale primrose." — Milton. 



The Myosbtis sylvestris and its white variety, also the superior 

 species, M. dissitiflora and M. riipestris, which will be described 

 amongst the alpine flowers, should abound in every garden in spring. 



In May and the beginning of June the blue and white perennial 

 Lupins {Lupinns polyphyllus, fig. 434) are fine plants, sending up 

 noble heads of the brightest flowers. They are valuable additions to 

 every border, and no care is required in their cultivation. They 

 may be propagated by seed or by division of the roots. 



" The snowdrop, and then the violet. 

 Arose from the ground with warm rain wet, 

 And their breath was mixed with fresh odour sent 

 From the turf like the- voice and the instrument."— Shelley. 



Fig. 43S. — Christmas Rose. 



Fig. 436. — Wallflower. 



Fig. 434. — Lupin. 



One of the most valuable winter-blooming flowers is the Christmas 

 Rose {Helleborus niger, fig. 435), affording large white flowers when 

 other. blossoms do not exist. I have had much trouble in growing 

 this plant, although it attains to the highest perfection a few hundred 

 yards from my garden, and about twenty or thirty feet higher up 

 the hill. My plants now, however, look well, as I secured strong 

 vigorous specimens, and planted each in a few spadefuls of good 



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