But all along the terrace beyond is to be found every sort of old- 

 fashioned flower : hollyhocks and canterbury-bells, zinnias and marigolds, 

 stocks and sweet-peas, with here a group of tall Madonna lilies and there 

 a throng of purple larkspurs, while yellow snapdragons hang over the 

 terrace wall and nod familiarly to the passer-by. 



Where all is beautiful it is a little difficult to say under what aspect 

 the garden may be seen to best advantage ; perhaps we should choose 

 those early days when columbine and peony still linger, and the sweet 

 yellow Banksia rose mingles its exquisite clusters with the pale lilac 

 wistaria, each enhancing by delicate contrast the beauty of the other. 

 At what time, however, you visit the little terrace it matters not, for 

 flowers are always waiting there to greet you. If, as may happen in the 

 cooler months, these should be few and far between, there is always the 

 glorious view of domes and towers, of lovely ancient bridges and winding 

 river, of Fiesole and the villa-sprinkled landscape and the far-reaching 

 purple mountains, to compensate you for their absence. 



107 



