Oldal 104 [104]
PSe\sJAMES RIVER PLANTATION BELT
bricated and prickly involucre is composed of numerous oval scales
whose fleshy bases are much esteemed as an article of food, so
plentiful in California and so rare with us in the east.
Now you turn and pass along another transverse walk parallel
with the former. On your left is the pit which in winter holds the
Marechal Neil rose, the lemon and gardenia, begonias and all those
plants and shrubs that can not be left out to the blight of winter.
On your right there is another border leading to the gate and con¬
tinuing beyond it to the garden fence. This border merges into
another border at right angles which continues along the fence up
to the transverse walkway. Every border is surrounded by box¬
hedges of ancient growth. The last border mentioned encom¬
passes a wealth of bloom and fragrance—irises, Madonna lilies,
nasturtiums, petunias, cosmos, gladioli and chrysanthemums, del¬
phiniums, as well as shrubs of many kinds. Fortunately the hedges
are sufficiently low to allow one to step over into squares and small
plots and here, with gloves, basket and scissors, one can cull to one’s
heart s content and Joy.
The vegetable squares, as before said, are towards the upper
end of the garden, as are also the small fruits, currants, goose¬
berries and raspberries. Just beyond the artichoke bed behold the
strawberry bed! Push away the straw and pick the glorious crim¬
son globes and thank God that you are alive. One feels like a
ravager of shrines, but there is strawberry cream for dinner and
strawberry jam all the winter!
Fruit trees bloom at distant points about the garden and give
additional beauty, while the vegetables vie with one another, turnips
and radishes near the gray-green cabbages; peas, beans and potatoes
stand in neighbourly proximity to tomato plants.
In the early morning, in the long noonday, in the cool of the
evening, the garden is a place of refuge, solace and happiness; the
atmosphere is laden with the fragrance of boxwood; birds, bees
and butterflies are there, their confidence in the Infinite provision
[63 ]