Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-02-22
Something About Flowers.

The sable visltants of the forest have
awakened from their drowsy lethargY, and
we hear again their familiar and cheerful
" cav, cav" which betokens springtide.
We dream once more Of pleasant days
and flower gardens; Of trellised Walks
and vine clad arbors; rank growth anu
luxurIant blossoming, and free gifts from
the bountiful lap Of nature. Almost DC
fore the last snow drift mas melted away
the sweet little woodland yiulet Will hit
its bright face from among the brown
leaves, soon to DO followed by the stout,
coarse benjamin, with his crimson lace
noddlng to the slender addertongue ar
rayed in her yellow garb Then the dear
little Ma, flowers, pink and dewy, the wist-
full eyed darlngs of carly spring. tit
flowers for the coverlid of the drowned
and love.dislraught "Ophelia." Then
come the fern family, with their cousin
maiden hair spreading their fealhery and
swaying frOnds in graceful ease. Soon
the earth will spread her carpet OF green
besprinkled with the golden dandelion'S
winsome little faces, and all nature will
be animate with growth and beauty.
Now is the time TO bring from seed box
and chest our packages of flower seeds
and find what we havo in store for the
flower garden and how many times each
package may be divided to distribute
among our friends and neighbors
We treasure a few ANIMALS, and deem
them very necessary and beautiful for
bouquets. but where the busy housewife
finds most of her time employed with the
sterner duties of life. she finds 1t advisable
10 select the hardy kinds that thrive with
a Limited amount of caIe.
The pelunia belongs o this class, and
bed of mixed varieties will make a lovely
display of bloom until late in autumn.
The phlox, several kinds OF pinks, the
velvet marigold, mignonetto, asters, 2ln-
Mas and convolvuus minor make a very
good selection for hardy ANIMALS.
For biennials and perennials We prize
the common honey suckle, ever stand
ing guard over n fragrant conner filled
with southernwood. rost mary, sweet grass
and bergamot. The syrlnga fragrant
cups of alabaster and the cinnamon rose
Tree, with It's sweet tattered flowers,
b orins quietly with AN " infinite pa lence
IN any out OF the way corner The scai let
| pOnIca burns with glow stoirn in
centuries past from some lost sunset.
Snuwballs, iacs and peonies with their
white. purple and crimson clusters carry
US back to childhood, and we live again
our youthful Oh cams, our wild ambitions
our first love, and all our unfOr9otten past
All, beautiful lilac, queen OF the q aver
garden, sweet enchauLrcss OF the past
nothing can surpaSs thy beauty and
fragrance Lilies and dahllas are sump.
uuus boomers, Stately and snowy Roses
II different kinds, with heir rare eastern
per ume are ever in taste, and even the
All lean poppy, slender stemmed. delicate
and beautifully limned, ever lures the bee
and bulteln, with sen>uous CRIMSON lips.
The gadloIus spreads lis scarlet wings,
putting to shame The brightest butterfly
he dove of the mountain, or monk,hOod,
whose botanical name is aconite. is n tall,
stately plant with quaint little flowers
conc, alng two white doves underneath
each pu pie hood. The myrtle family
will trail and wander, green and steadast
over the sprnging grass. and retain their
emerald freshness under the pallid skies,
IN The bitter winds and autumn chills.
All these and few other familiar plants
and shrubs we would recommend to those
who love flowers and have NOT an abund-
ance of time to spend in the flower garden
We hope to hear some timely sugges-
tons on this sui ject from others OF the
household, and when we have made our
flower beus and told all we wish about
them, let us tell other "pretty stories !"
and strive to make this one Of the most
useful and interesting households" in
the land.
S. MINERVA BoYCE.