SPANISH GARDENS 



the fuchsia-like billbergia, what delicious green- 

 blue-rose in the strelitzia, and what grace and 

 delicacy in the flowers of the mosquito-plant, the 

 three together forming an arrangement as lovely 

 in effect of color as in form of subject. Another 

 marvel to me was Fremontia californica or mexi- 

 cana. This has bright-brown, woolly, curving 

 branches. Up the stem at intervals of about four 

 inches appear three beautiful leaves, more the 

 color and texture of those of English ivy than 

 like others, and a flower. The leaves are in 

 groups, one large, two small, very elegant in out- 

 line, and held away from their stem in most in- 

 teresting fashion. The five-petalled flower is of 

 vivid, clear yellow within and of burnt orange 

 without, if one could imagine such color. 



On a day in late March I spent some hours in 

 the region of San Diego, toward the Sweetwater 

 VaUey, and near the towns of Chula Vista and 

 National City. On the San Diego side of the 

 Coronado ferry two friends awaited me, and we 

 soon left the city in the distance, stopping first to 

 see a very complete garden belonging to Mrs. B. 

 Here cypress, pine, and other trees had made in 

 four short years that phenomenal growth only pos- 

 sible in this soft climate; here was a pleasant, for- 



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