21 OCTOBER 1949, Page 18

In the Garden b . I saw recently a special collection

of pcnstemons, flowers for which had no particular affection, but penstemons today are not the penstemon, of yesterday. A lot has been done for the flower—by selection, by hybridisation and by introduction. There is a light blue variety rivallin4 Canon Meyer's Cambridge-blue iris reticulata. The flowers appear freely and so late in the year and in such variety that they are becomin almost unrivalled brighteners of the garden in late summer.

W. BEAC.H THOMAS.