Flowers of Mystery 
455 
that if they had lived and crowded out these exquis- 
ite wild flowers I should have been sorry enough. 
The hardy Colchicum or Autumnal Crocus is sel- 
dom seen in our gardens ; nor do I care for its in- 
crease, even when planted in the grass. It bears to 
me none of the delight which accompanies the spring 
Crocus, but seems to be out of keeping with the 
Fountain at Yaddo. 
autumnal season. Rising bare of leaves, it has 
but a seminatural aspect, as if it had been stuck 
rootless in the ground like the leafless, stemless 
blooms of a child’s posy bed. Its English name — 
Naked Boys — seems suited to it. The Colchicum 
is associated in my mind with the Indian Pipe and 
similar growths ; it is curious, but it isn’t pleasing. 
As the Indian Pipe could not be lured within gar- 
