Flowers and Gardens 



lose sight of the individuals in the masses, 

 though bewildered by the multitude of 

 their claims. And there is the same 

 variety in some of the Rhododendron- 

 covered uplands of Switzerland, whose 

 effect in its kind more nearly resembles 

 what our gardeners desire. 



This constant revelling in a blaze of 

 colour, without any proper relief, begets 

 an indifference to the simple wild flowers, 

 which seem tame and insipid to eyes that 

 have been injured by excessive stimulus. 

 Now none can have a healthy love for 

 flowers unless he loves the wild ones. 

 In a garden the plants are kept in well- 

 behaved restraint, but we must watch 

 their ways when they are wholly free, 

 when each can choose the home it fancies 

 best, and root and wrestle for existence 

 there, disposing of its flowers and branches 

 with the utmost possible carelessness of 

 all other interests than its own, yet some- 

 how producing an effect of almost perfect 

 harmony and peace. And under no cir- 

 cumstances need our wild flowers seem 

 insipid to eyes that are rightly trained. 

 I had a Foxglove on the table last 

 summer whose bells were dropping, when 

 there came in a little bunch of Geraniums 

 and other greenhouse plants. My first 



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