Chap. VII.
The seuerall times of the flowring of these Out-landish flowers, according to the seuerall
moneths of the yeare.
I intend in this place onely to giue you briefly, the names of some of the chiefest of these Out-landish flowers, according to the seuerall moneths of the yeare wherein they flower, that euery one seeing what sorts of flowers euery moneth yeeldeth, may take of them which they like best. I begin with Ianuary, as the first moneth of the yeare, wherein if the frosts be not extreme, you shall haue these flowers of plants; the Christmas flower or Helleborus niger verus, Winter wolues bane or Aconitum hyemale, Hepatica or Noble Liuer wort blew and red, and of shrubbes, the Laurus Tinus or Wilde Bay tree, and Mesereon or the dwarfe Bay: but because Ianuarie is oftentimes too deepe in frosts and snow, I therefore referre the Hepaticas vnto the moneth following, which is February, wherein the weather beginneth to be a little milder, and then they will flower much better, as also diuers sorts of Crocus or Saffron flower will appeare, the little early Summer foole or Leucoium bulbosum, and towards the latter end thereof the Vernall Colchicum, the Dogges tooth Violet or Dens Caninus, and some Anemones, both single and double, which in some places will flower all the Winter long. March will yeeld more varieties; for besides that it holdeth some of the flowers of the former moneth, it will yeeld you both the double blew Hepatica, and the white and the blush single: then also you shall haue diuers other sorts of Crocus or Saffron flowers, Double yellow Daffodils, Orientall Iacinths and others, the Crowne Imperiall, diuers sorts of early Tulipas, some sorts of French Cowslips, both tawney, murry, yellow and blush, the early Fritillaria or checkered Daffodill, and some other sorts of early Daffodils, and many sorts of Anemones. In Aprill commeth on the pride of these strangers; for herein you may behold all the sorts of Auricula Vrsi or Beares Eares, many sorts of Anemones, both single and double, both the sorts of Tulipas, the earlier vntill the middle of the moneth, and the later then beginning; which are of so many different colours, that it is almost impossible to expresse them, the white, red, blacke, and yellow Fritillarias, the Muscari or Muske Grape flower, both ash colour and yellow. Diuers other sorts of Iacinths and Daffodils, both single and double, the smaller sorts of Flowerdeluces, the Veluet Flowerdeluce and double Honysuckles, with diuers others. May likewise at the beginning seemeth as glorious as Aprill, although toward the end it doth decline, in regard the heate of the Sunne hath by this time drawne forth all the store of natures tenderest dainties, which are vsually spent by the end of this moneth, and then those of stronger constitution come forward. Herein are to bee seene at the beginning the middle flowring Tulipas, and at the end the later sorts: some kindes of Daffodils, the Day Lillies, the great white Starre flower, the Flowerdeluce of Constantinople or the mourning Sable flower, the other sorts of Flowerdeluces. Single and double white Crowfoote, and single and double red Crowfoot, the glory of a Garden: the early red Martagon, the Persian Lilly, the yellow Martagon, the Gladiolus or Corne flagge, both white, red, and blush: the double yellow Rose, and some other sorts of Roses. In Iune doe flower the white and the blush Martagon, the Martagon Imperiall, the mountaine Lillies, and the other sorts of white and red Lillies, the bulbous Flowerdeluces of diuers sorts, the red flowred Ladies bower, the single and double purple flowred Ladies bower, the white Syringa or Pipe tree, for the blew Pipe tree flowreth earlier, the white and the yellow Iasmin. Iuly holdeth in flower some of the Ladies bowers and Iasmines, and besides doth glory in the Female Balsame apple, the Indian Cresses or yellow Larkes spurres, the purple Flower-gentle and the Rose Bay. In August begin some of the Autumne bulbous flowers to appeare, as the white and the purple Colchicum or Medow Saffron, the purple mountaine Crocus or Saffron flower, the little Autumne Leucoium and Autumne Iacinth, the Italian Starrewort, called of some the purple Marigold, the Meruaile of Peru or of the world, the Flower of the Sunne, the great blew Bell-flower, the great double French Marigold. September flourisheth with the Flower of the Sunne, the Meruaile of the world, the purple Marigold, and blew Bell-flower spoken of before, and likewise the other sorts of Medow Saffron, and the double kinde likewise, the siluer Crocus, the Autumne yellow Daffodill, Cyclamen also or Sowbread shew their flowers in the end of this moneth. October also will shew the flowers of Cyclamen, and some of the Medow Saffrons. In Nouember, as also sometimes in the moneth before, the party coloured Medow Saffron may bee seene, that will longest hold his flower, because it is the latest that sheweth it selfe, and the ash coloured mountaine Crocus. And euen December it selfe will not want the true blacke Hellebor or Christmas flower, and the glorious shew of the Laurus Tinus or wilde Bay tree. Thus haue I shewed you some of the flowers for euery moneth, but I referre you to the more ample declarion of them and all the others, vnto the work following.