D'Israeli, in his novel of Lothair, thus sketches the garden of Lady Corisande:

" It was formed upon a gentle southern slope, with turfen terraces, walled in on three sides, the fourth consisting of arches of Golden Yew. The Duke had given this garden to Lady Corisande, in order that she might practice her theory that flower gardens should be sweet and luxuriant, and not hard and scentless works of art. Here in the season flourished abundantly all those productions of Nature which are now banished from our once delightful senses; huge bushes of Honeysuckle, and bowers of Sweet Peas, Sweetbriar and Jasmine clustering over the walls, and Gilliflowers scenting with their sweet breath the ancient bricks from which they seemed to spring; there were banks of Violets, which the southern breeze always stirred, and Mignonette filled every vacant nook. As they entered now, it seemed a blaze of Roses and Carnations, though one recognized in a moment the presence of the Lily, the Heliotrope and the Stock; some white peacocks were basking on the southern wall, and one of them, as the visitors entered, moved and displayed his plumage with scornful pride.

The bees were busy in the air, but their homes were near, and you might watch them in their glassy hives. ' Now is not Corisande quite right,' said Lord St. Aldergonde, as he presented Madame Phoebus with a garland of Woodbine. All agreed with him, and they sauntered and rambled in the sunny air amid a blaze of butterflies, and the ceaseless hum of bees".