"Love's Hour stands.
Its eyes invisible
Watch till the dial's thin brown shade
Be born—yea, till the journeying line be laid
Upon the point."
Beata Beatrix.
Andrew Marvell wrote two centuries ago of the floral sun-dials which were the height of the gardening mode of his day:—
"How well the skilful gardener drew
Of flowers and herbs this dial new.
When from above the milder sun
Does through a fragrant zodiac run;
And as it works the industrious bee
Computes its time as well as we!
How could such sweet and wholesome hours
Be reckoned but with herbs and flowers!"
These were sometimes set of diverse flowers, sometimes of Mallows. Two of growing Box are described and displayed in the chapter on Box edgings.
