One of the attractions of lawns in England is the way they become covered in spring and summer with the little white flowers of the common daisy. This is something we have not got in Shanghai. But in place of the daisies we have two equally delightful flowers, which, if allowed to grow, suffuse our lawns with gold and mauve. These are a species of small buttercup (Renunculus ternatus. Thun berg) and a small violet (Viola Patrinn chinensis Ging.), which grow down amongst the stems of our Bermuda grass, and only push their buds and flowers above it when the first warmth of spring calls them out of hiding. These little wild flowers should be encouraged, but it is hard, indeed, to make the women who come to weed our lawns distinguish between them and other wild plants of a less desirable nature. They make a clean sweep of everything that is not grass.
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As a matter of fact, there are in Shanghai a number of modest little wild flowers that, if allowed a footing in the garden, will add greatly to its beauty and charm. For instance, the ground under holly bushes and other low-growing shrubs will notsupport grass, with the result that in most well kept gardens it remains bare. There is no need for this, since there are several small creeping wild flowers that thrive in such spots. One of these, known to science as Isopyryum adozoides DC., has leaves something like parsley, which grow close to the ground covering it well. Another is the sorrel (Oxalis cernicalata, L.), whose pretty clover-shaped leaves and lovely little star-like yellow flowers also cover the ground with a most attractive canopy. Yet another is Tournefort's speedwell (Veronica Teurnefertii Gmelin), in which the shapely foliage becames spangled early in spring with little gems of forget-me-not blue. The Indian strawberry (Du-chesnec indica, Andr.) also spreads its pretty leaves and yellow flowers thickly over the ground, as also does its close relation the cinquefoil (Petentilla Klein-iena W. & A.). A small plant with beautiful mauve blossoms called the heal-all and known scientifically as Prunella valgaris, L., may he grown effectively in clumps amongst rocks, over which stone-crops may he trained. We have intro duced into our garden a species from Mokanshan that is very effective, form mg not only a beautiful cover with its foliage, but lending a note of colour when its masses of yellow blossoms ap pear in the early summer. The local variety of stonecrop is also effective though having smaller more narrow leaves and less conspicuous blossoms than the Mokanshan form.
All of these humble plants may he used in the garden without in any way detracting from its neat and tidy appearance. A very lovely wild flower which sometimes finds its way into our gardens is the so-called day-flow spider wort (Commelina communis L) This has beautiful blossoms in which two large petals of the purest blue stick up like a mouse's ears. They protrude from a hairy purse-like sheath growing to wards the end of a grass-like jointed stem with long spear-shaped leaves The flowers open in the early morning and have withered by noon, but, where the plant grows in clusters, the effect of their wonderful blue is very pleasing The only trouble, with this plant is that it grows very rank, and spreads with great persistence, so that it is liable to get out of control and become a nuisance. It is self seeding, even if grown in pots and, with a little care, becomes a most attractive plant to have around.
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The Shanghai Horticultural Society is holding its sixtieth Annual Spring Flower Show on May 16 and 17 at the Race Club. It is hoped that there will be an unusually large attendance to celebrate the occasion, as there is going to be a particularly attractive display, in spite of the extremely late season.
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The continued gloomy, wet and cold weather that has characterized the present spring season has had the effect of greatly delaying the blossoming of many spring flowering shrubs. Everything is at least a fortnight later than last year. A pleasing result may accrue, however, in regard to the roses, all the many different varieties of which are coming in-to bloom at once, so that our Shanghai gardens will be a riot of colour shortly. Usually the different varieties bloom in a succession from about the middle of April to the end of May, but this season they are all in bud together, and only a few have started blooming as yet.
A. DE C S.