FLOWER GARDENING IN THE GRASS. 



221 



them a proper chance, rather than select any pretty colour that takes one's fancy without 

 considering the strength of the plant. White, delicate rose, soft blue, purple, and rich blue, 

 with shades of each one, are present in this family. 



Blue, too, as deep as the Gentian almost, is the Scilla, to which group belongs the Wood 

 Hyacinth or Bluebell (S. nutans) and the Spanish Bluebell (S. campa nulata ). Both these 

 species should be well grown in English gardens. The Bluebell, a sea of soft colour in the 

 copse and woodland in May, has white and rose forms, which may be introduced into the 

 meadow- for variety. Even stronger is the Spanish Scilla, and its w hite and soft rose varieties 

 bulbs of wonderful vigour, spreading freely in almost entire shade, save the light that glints 

 through tiie tree branches. 

 In May the flowers appear 

 in profusion, and last some 

 weeks in fresh beauty. In 

 sunshine audi shade this 

 Spanish Bluebell will 

 increase freely, and its 

 varieties are almost as 

 vigorous. 



As dainty as the 

 Daffodil is the Snow Hake 

 of spring and late summer, 

 Leucojum aestivum and 

 autumnale respectively, tall 

 Snowdrop-like flowers of 

 free growth in good soils. 

 The spring Snowflake is 

 prettily placed at the base 

 of fruit trees in an orchard 

 or grassy acre near the 



house in which the Apple is planted for its pinky bloom, and Daffodils caress the brown trunks. 

 At the foot put the Snowflake also, both its spring and summer kinds — Snowdrops, in truth, 

 held on tall graceful stems. 



Where no meadows are available to make Maiw's meadows w ithal, a small stretch or grass 

 will givemanv charming effects when planted w ith flowers that delight in the green sward. Here 

 tlie Tulips, T. sylvestris, suaveolens, Clusiana, and the slenderer kinds, will bloom, mingling 

 with meadow Saxifrage (S. granulata fl.-pl.), S. Camposi, and Scilla — or perhaps Ornitho- 

 galum nutans has been used to make clouds of soft green and grey, as grey as the early dawn, 

 and this plant, w hen it enjoys the soil and position, will make a colony of some extent if not 

 hindered. Crocuses of course are so brilliant that they must be naturalised in the grass. No 

 flower of the early year is so enjoyable, or gives such rich carpets of colour, yellow, orange, 

 purple, and white, laid over the grass-land in the early year when the midday sun is strong 

 enough to open their petals wide and stain still deeper the green turf. This brave family is 

 scarcely used in the best ways in gardens. Lining a border with Crocuses is correct, but it is 

 in broad masses, in groups in the grass, on the verges of the lawn, or under trees, that 

 the Crocus is most thoroughly - enjoyed. This is following the ways of Nature, who 

 scatters the flower in the meadows of Europe, as she does the Bluebell in the English 

 copse and wood. Of the rarer species little need be written, but the true autumn Crocus (C. 

 speciosus) is a beautiful September flower to establish just beyond the spread of tree branches. 

 A warm sun opens the petals to disclose the orange centre against purple-blue. Colchicum 

 autumnale, in its single and double forms, C. speciosum, and C. Parkinsoni, are worth establishing 

 in the grass — the best way of using flowers that are happy in mead and lawn. 



AUTUMN CROCUSES. 



