A FLORAL CHRISTMAS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 75, 22 December 1920, Page 8

A FLORAL CHRISTMAS

UNUSUAL RIOT OF BLOOMS

THE MAORI BELIEF

(By "Sylvius.") "When the cabbage tree, blooms big a hot summer comes," is one of the many beliefs tho Maoris have absorbed out of the book of Nature. This summer not only have the cabbago trees put forth great clusters of dull, white"uu)Ojiis, but the flax bushes are sending up bigger and hardier blooms thau for many years past. The flower of the flax bush is not usually very beautiful. The ugly brown —a dirty brown—pods grow at regular intervals along the dußky bljick stem, and usually show little rear colour at all. This summer, however, eTfn tho flax bush is making a special effort; not only by throwing out wide-armed blooms, but in displaying thoir deep orange-coloured pistils to tho world, thereby lending an air of unsuspected beauty to the plant, even if it be grotesque in character. Whether the Maori belief bo correctly foundod or not, there Js not the slightest doubt that the Christmas now at band is going to be a rewarkablo one in the garden. "I don't know how it is," said one grower of roses to tho writer, "but I am getting surprising results this season. After the fierce winds of October and November I thought .my rosea wero going to lose heart, but they have come on wonderfully this month and'l bave tho best show I havo ever had."

Prom the "Zoo" at Newtown, tho superintendent (Mr. J. Langridge) reports that the rosery is a glimpso of paradiso to any lover of roses, and tho display is a good deal ahead of any other summer, There is similar ovidenee from the Botanical Gardens, which should bo .visited during the holidays by those who 'lovo-flowers.

But it is not alone in the public gardens and reserves that a prolific seiscm is making itself manifest. A favourite treo in private gardens in tho district, is tli& pohutukawa (the Now Zealand Christmas treo), nnd biids are already appearing which promiso a wealth of flaming blossom between now and the end of the year, whilst, the rata"Tits cousin) is nlso showing signs of_malting n bold display. The cottage g<Trd_ens, too. are presenting their gratified owners with a riot o£ colour, such as has not been seen for many years, Ono lady who takes a keen interest in. her garden believes that the extraordinary display of bloom is directly due to the cold, windy weather experienced during October and November: that plants which usually blossom a little carlier_ are concentrating their delayed effori in one grand ensemble.

Carnntion growers nro positively elated at the eizß nn<l number of beautiful blooms tliat are "scenting every ait that, blows." Carnations do very veil bv Hio seaside, and it is in the bay. gardens that manv of tho beat displays are to be scon at the present time. Larkspurs, which nro sometimes ro_ disappointing, are sending up stalks of pink, blue, white and purple blossoms, four and five foot in height, and their graceful plumes vie with the gayest of blossoms. GallaTclins. thn=i< deep orange daisies, with so many fashions in oven and embroidery, aro also among the plants that aro holding their own in this riot of bloom. These flowers also love tho ozone, and do wonderfully well even in poor soil onco thev get a start. This i« indeed to be a floral Christmas in Wdiinsrton, and it behoves everyone to make tho most of it. for flowers, as the poet hath it. arn "our little bits of heaven on earth."