Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-08-15
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is it fragrant - is the first inquiry made
by the majority Of people to whom a new
flower is presented. If the inquiry is not
made, the fact Of its odorous or odorless
condition is at once tested The impulse is
so general as to furnish evidence ior the
conclusion that fragrant flowers are gener-
ally loved
A choice, elegantly formed, richly col.
ored rose loses something of its attractive
ness II II he scentlcss. We expect sweet
ness Of a rose. The happy little Bon ST
lene, always lovely, with its variety of
color, and invariable, sweet, spicy perfume,
is a constant favorite, and will doubtless so
continue so long as roses bloom. The in
fluence of room pervaded by the soft
odors of fragrant flowers is at once sooth-
ing and inspiring Involuntarily gentle
thoughts creep into the mind. Courage re
turns, hope springs up, faith in the divine
guidance is awakened, thoughts Of heaven
are stirred
Our Margaret is a true flower lover Last
season from her little garden plot she car
red floral blessings to dozens of her friends,
rich and poor. She noticed that none of
her offerings were 50 acceptable as the
sweet scented ones
How that mignonette brings back my
girlhood - said one gentle invalid
MY bridal bouquet was of lilies of the
valley said another.
'Niolets were my mothers favoritcs,"
whispered patient sufferer
This year Margaret is devoting Just two
thirds of her valuable garden space to fra
grant flowers. The English violet beds
have been extended by transplanting BY
good care these are made to bloom until
late in the season. A large sunny corner
is triua to tba Iii
Numerous slips of both light and dark va
rieties have been planted in rich soil, and
she will be able to gather full sprays with
lavish hand until the very last of summer
days. The bed Of lily of the valley has al
ready yielded its abundant bloom, and
larger plot will be given it for another sea-
son. Sweet peas-Margaret loves but one
kind, the od-fashioned. ever delightful
painted lady No fragrance is more
grateful to her friends The clear. satisfy
ing colors need no assistance from other
flowers, but are a whole bouquet in them
selves. There is long walk down through
the garden. On each side are planted large
quantities of sweet peas and they promise
abundant fruitage. The vines demand
more attention than any other of her flow
er family, hut when they have been nicely
trained to meet in high arch overhead,
they furnish a source of delight for the
summer guests, and also to the sharers of
her weekly supply of bouquets The
preachers desk in her loved church will
often be frightened by these flowers, and
Margaret dearly loves to add this contribu-
tion for the service Of the tabernacle"
August lilies, ascension lilies, yellow lilies,
and pond lilies have their place in Marga.
ret S garden the last in a miniature pond
composed of half barrel sunken in the
ground. Truth compels the statement that
these last are not always successful though
fresh roots and earth from the pond are
often procured. But when fair white
and gold lily does come to bloom in the old
barrel, it seems to Margaret fairer and
winter and sweeter than any flower that
ever blOomed out of paradise.
Mignonette forms a long border down
the walks, sprinkled with sweet alyssum,
and each will yield an abundant harvest
Margaret keeps these carefully gathered,
so that the strength of the plants need not
be wasted in seed bearing. \ great hand
full of fresh mignonette is always to be
found in a small glass hanging basket in
| her room.
For sweet green leaves there are lemon
verbena-two large trees carefully kept
| from year to year-some old fashioned
sweet-scented geraniums, and, very much
older fashioned that plant beloved by our
great grandmothers, the feathery, blue
green, comforting southernwood whose
pungent odor recalls many youthful mem
ory in the hearts of the older ladies'.
Mention should also be made of the equal
ly ancient red roses, the spicy, slightly
double, deep cruason variety, with bright
golden centres, which used to grow in our
grandmOthers' gardens Marparat has a
half dozen or more elderly ladies among
the pensioners of her bounty, and the red
roses and southernwood are to them an es-
pecial delight, as they are to the most ps-
thetic of all her friends for in spite OF the
efforts of florists to produce new varieties,
there are certain old time favorites that
never lose their charm, and the fragrant
flowers are always of this sort-Hd,per's
! Bd-Ur