32 BOOK OF OLD-FASfflONED FLOWERS 



Greece {A. blanda), and in warm situations the old A. 

 coronaria itself. In any case the foliage of anemones, 

 and beautiful foliage it is, is one of the ornaments of the 

 hardy winter garden. Some of the species of crocus, 

 also, belong to the section of winter bloomers, notably 

 the mauve C imperati, and the pale lilac C. pulchellus. In 

 sheltered shady spots, where it can enjoy well-drained 

 leafy soil undisturbed, the round-leaved Cyclamen 

 (C. courn) and its white-flowered variety (C hyemale) 

 produce abundance of welcome little flowers often quite 

 early in January. Those who fear the assaults of evil 

 spirits should remember a couplet quoted in Folkard's 

 " Plant Lore, Legends and Lyrics " : — 



" St John's Wort and fresh Cyclamen she in her chamber kept, 

 From the power of evil angels to guard him while he slept." 



Its potency as a drug was so thoroughly believed that 

 Gerard fenced round all his cyclamens, and also laid 

 sticks over them crosswise lest any unfortunate indi- 

 vidual might tread on the corms, and so bring about the 

 direst results. 



In wild waste spots, or under trees where few things 

 will thrive, the fragrant Winter Coltsfoot is well worth 

 growing. It spreads at a terrible pace, and must there- 

 fore not be introduced into the mixed borders. The 

 common primrose and its garden varieties, as well as 

 many other species of primula, are of the utmost value 

 in the winter garden, both for their foliage and for their 

 flowers, which in some cases begin to appear soon after 

 Christmas. One of the very earliest is the purple 

 Caucasian Primrose (P. amoena), which bears its umbel 

 of flowers often in the very depth of winter. All the 

 primroses like shelter, partial shade, deep moderately- 

 rich soil, and " peace and quietness." 



But of all the flowers of winter, the most beautiful is 

 the fragrant Iris reticulata. No description can convey 



