V- 
HERBACEOUS GARDEN 
150 
or a soft grey stone. Here can be planted 
ceanothus (Gloire de Versailles), with soft, 
feathery blue plumes in pastel shades, cean- 
othus indigo, with shining dark leaves, and 
darker blue flowers, and the major convolvulus. 
In the south one may grow the lovely blue 
sollya, and Vitis heterophylla , that fascinating 
vine, bearing berries of vivid turquoise on the 
same bunch as its half- ripe ones of purple and 
mauve, shining like some fairy gems. People 
who have not seen this growing, find it im- 
possible to believe their senses when told that 
it is not the product of some most artistic 
jeweller. It is very unlike any other growing 
thing. In hot seasons such as 1 9 1 1 this fruited 
well at Hurst Court. Even the foliage is ex- 
quisite, like miniature vine leaves. 
A carpet of scillas, muscari (Heavenly Blue 
or Cambridge blue), chionodoxas, all easily 
grown and inexpensive bulbs, would be over in 
time for forget-me-not, Omphalodes verna (Blue- 
eyed Mary), and Anchusa sempervirens to flower. 
The last is a native plant and most useful, 
its forget-me-not-like flowers continuing till 
autumn. But it must not be allowed to take 
possession of the border. 
Mertensia virginica , a real gem, is not diffi- 
cult to grow if well-established clumps can be 
