A garden rosary . A GARDEN ROSARY 47 July i8 ertain spiky flowers develop likecertain spiky natures — un-evenly. Take the snapdragon,for instance. The blossoms have alreadyfallen at the base of the stalk before thetip is in bloom. When it is young it hasa long string of immature buds to top it:when it is fullblown it has dead seedpods to detract from it. Even the mignon-ette does this, and the balsam, and thefoxglove. The larkspur alone is clever. Itcreeps up its long spike and maintainsits charm all the way. And when one seedpod stands bare it can be clipped off, andthe last new blossom looks
A garden rosary . A GARDEN ROSARY 47 July i8 ertain spiky flowers develop likecertain spiky natures — un-evenly. Take the snapdragon,for instance. The blossoms have alreadyfallen at the base of the stalk before thetip is in bloom. When it is young it hasa long string of immature buds to top it:when it is fullblown it has dead seedpods to detract from it. Even the mignon-ette does this, and the balsam, and thefoxglove. The larkspur alone is clever. Itcreeps up its long spike and maintainsits charm all the way. And when one seedpod stands bare it can be clipped off, andthe last new blossom looks as if it werethe first. It is like the Parisienne whocan perform her entire toilet so deftlythat she is alluring in every stage andprocess. But most spiky flowers are likepoorly furnished houses which have notquite enough furniture for you take the mat for the parlor, thehall is bare: if you move enough chairs tothe dining-room, you have to stand up inthe 48 A GARDEN ROSARY July 19 alking through ones garden islike passing down the aisle ofthe village church, where oneknows every one with the superficialknowledge of long familiarity. The petunia, for instance: it does nottake much penetration to see in her thefloppy-hatted village belle, with a weakypretty face, and unaristocratic hands andfeet. The scarlet salvia is a shrewd, shrill-voiced termagant, who can — in fits ofrage — scream so that the neighbors hearher a mile away. She has a kind of goodlooks, however, —carmine lips, sparklingeyes, and a lively carriage, — legitimateexpressions of a certain quick cannot wholly dislike her, in spiteof her bad temper. The cineraria, like a caricature of aflower, cut out of tin, reminds me of oneof those dumb, forbidding dowagers, whocarry on the tradition of a respected fam- A GARDEN ROSARY 49 ily. She is always as well dressed as ifshe were going to a funeral. Although shenever attracts any intimate advances, yet,both b
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublishe, booksubjectflowers
