Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-27

mullen, tvernascuhn,) too much neglected, wit a
its long spike. covered with small yellow, cup
se IN sra y s called
The little yellow sDutter cups" and golden
Fou we
and guess you were all boys and girls once
though we have too few boys and girls nova
are hardly young folks~but mean in those
happy days when we used to put these little
yellow refectors under each others chins to see
Of COY course the true little mirror always cast
reflection, and that was sure sign. you know;
but that was our experience when young; and
no doubt all Of you, or nearly all, were young
once, II 1t was not so long ago as that we forget
At the fine floral exhibition in Baltimore last
mented objects there was large, handsome
pyramid bouquet of wild flowers and grasses
presented by Miss Montague.
blue ohe
plants that Is both ornamental and uSeful-llke
handsome, hndhearted women, who are attract
I've as well as useful. The milk weed family
(asclepias) shows great variety, both in form
and color, and some are medicinal. There are
hundreds, yes thousands, of other flowers, very
attractive ana deserving Of attention: which
rocks, and ponds; doing which will afford
health, strength, and delight; and many of them
can be transferred to the garden and success
fully cultivated, by carefully studying their
habits and wants, as seen where they are found,
and taking natures way as q guide. lady
amateur OF taste and Skill, and valued men,
Der Of this Society, last fall gathered the roots
of sedums, stevias, and some others from the
banks of the Potomac and transferred them to
her garden In this City, and the result Is she
had tine blossoms from them the past spring
and summer, and has some even now; and she
has found the shooting stars" american cycla-
men> become improved and odorous by clltiva-
are improved by cultivation; the oxalIs (sorreD
may be named as one.
BLOOMING SHRUBS
Among the blooming shrubs are the azaltas,
dendrons, sweet brier, choke cherries, spireis
elders, bearberry and wild roses, with numer-
GUS other species, most of them blooming in the
spring and early summer, but some even later,
uons In the woods, valleys, by the waters and
on bills; the azaleas (early honeysuckle) and
mountain Ivy lrhododendronsl growing mostly
some, sweet red blossoms, in clusters, in May
and June; the latter Several vartetiea) growing
on rocky ridges aud mountain sides. giving red
during June and July. They are often called
mountain laurel. The elders and spireas, OF
several varieties; growing on low grounds, near
water courses, are very pretty DloOmer5, white
and red, from June to August.
SOME OF THE TREE BOOMERS.
S7me OF the more conspicuous Towering trees,
which give blooms from early sprtng to late
Localities, high and low, are the cercis, or red
bud, and shadbush (aronia), which bloom very
early; the former red, In March, and the latter
white, in April, but both showing blossoms be-
nus, large white blossoms, in March and April.
Then magnOtas and tulip tree Qiriodendron),
both fragrant and snowy; but there are none,
geOus and beautiful spectacle than our common
crab apple tree (pyruS coronaria), when clothed
In Its full bloom OF rich red and white bios SONS
in May; it is very attractive to bees. The thorn
trees aId black haws are very Handsome all
Of these like rich, low lands. Eastwood (t1lia)
gives pretty, fragrant blossoms, yellow or buff
color, rich i1 honey and much liked by bees,
from which they make much excellent honey.
Among the handsome and curious Towering
trees we must notice the snowy fringe tree or
towering ash (chionanthus), found In this re-
giOn, giving its white spray like blooms In March
or April.
AQUATIC OR WATER PLANTS
There are many handsome and fragrant flow
ering plants, native TO the waters Of the Poto-
mac and Its branches, OF which only a Jew can
here be named. The white water-llly (nymphea
odofata) Is very attractive flower; the yellow
pond lily and several others; but the most
splendid and beautiful of all is the nelunbium
luteum, with white and yellow blossoms, very
fragrant and largest aquatic bloom known In
this country tand second In size only to the
can lotus, being the only American species of
the sacred and famous lotus Of the Nile The
p1ckerel weed (pontederia) is a handsome blue
flower, spike or plume form, two to three feet
water and green foliage Then there is the Iris
family, 1leur de lis, or towering flags; sagltta-
ras ana al Whs Of culture ~ our
thrive from Lake Erie to Gulf Of Mexico.
We have mentioned scarcely one in thou
sand OF our charming Wild flowers, but. enou sh
Is suggested to give some Idea of the richness
aud endless variety OF our native flora, and to
show how desirable 1t is that more attention
should be given to their preservation In our
gardens and lawns. They should receive more
attention-pot that we should give up our
charming exotics and foreign flowers, but in
creased attention to our Indigenous plants of
all KINDS. Some people seem to believe and act
upon the proverb that 1.-THE farther the fetch
tt greater the value" giving extravagant re-
gard to tforetgn things" and equally marked
disregard for our home beauties, just as gov
ernment and rich people send abroad for too
many foreign goods and fabrics, which they
ought to buy at home and sustain home produc-
tiCn ard manufacture
There is one interesting object may be con-
sideIed In the study Of flowers that is to Ind
and point out their Individuality In order to per-
tween human and plant characteristics in Order
TO be able the more readily to distinguish closely
the slight differences and resembIances. For
1nstance-some plants have inodorous flowers,
and nearly covered by profuse foliage; they are
like over. dressed people but destitute Of mental
Development. Some flowers attract by form
and color but have no perfume; they compare
4. I jewelry and dashy cOlors, but with no useful
habits. Then we find other blooms that unite
all the other attractions with perfume and heal
Ing qualities; these represent people of true
culture, genius, generosity and kindly dis
position to aid those who may need and de-
serve their kind Offices
And there is noticeably great difference in
size and other characteristics between various
members Of the same family, of flowers as with
dlnereDt members of the same human family.
For instance, take New England family-some
of Its members are large, vigorous, aud noted,
while others are small, frail. and retiring; so
with the plant family OF lobelias; one is tall,
large, and conspicuous, as the scarlet cardinal
flower" lobel1a cardinalis; while The small blue
lobelfa is hardly noticed. Another instance:
take a western family, in which one member
will be found TO be tall, robust and stalwart
aud another is small, delicate, almost dwarfed;
to this may be com pared the composite family
Of plants. in which is found the tall towering
sunflower, and the low creeping dandellon, al
most hidden In grass at your feet.
The TeSembIanceS are so slight, or the dis
similarity so wide, in regard to the different
members OF some families, of both plant and
human, that only by careful analysis or scien-
ttfic examination can the facts be positively
ascerained, and in just such contingencies lies
the value and necessity Of careful scientific
study and investigation. The more prominent
resemblances In all families are apparent to
even the casual observer; such as the dark hair
and eyes, the hooked nose and brawny shout