Plateau gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Tenn.) 1883-1884, 1884-04-03
NOTES FROM THE WOODS.
MARCH, v-,e-, ~

MARCH, ,s- esSss
Not only through the lenient air this change,
Delicious, brea:hes; the penetratlve SIM;
His force deep dartng to the dark retreat :. y
OF vegetation sets the steaming power y \
At large, to wander DER the verddnt earth,
In variegated huesj But chiefly thee, gay
green! iaT 20 i.
Thou smiling Natures universal robe, y
Thompson.
As the late riser misses the roseate
tints of early morning, and the songs of
the birds, heard at no other time, so, he
who waits for summers verdure ere he
frequents the woods, loses many a
charming sight 1t is only in the VIM
ter or early spring, that we clearly dis
Germ the forms of trees and their branch
es, the various shades of color in the
bark and twigs, and the varieties in the
spray, peculiar to each species.
The MOSES and lichens then, also,
show to the best advantage; their beau
tiful coloring contrasting strongly with
the brown leaves and deadened heritage
around them. ..0'. t| '.i t'i'f
Which is our earliest fower2 With
out doubt, the Houstonia coralea, or
Bluets, or Quaker Maidens. This little
plant, scattered so plentifully over all
the open grounds, makes use of every
opportunity to gladden. us by II display
of its delicate light-blue or purple corol-
Jas, eyed with yellow. January, seems
to be its only resting time ; for, on
Christmas Day we plucked a blossom III
our door yard, and found them. AGAIN il
February. A little tuft, just, nov
counted, numbered ninety-fve buds anc
blossoms. 1t is a member Of the !almos
tropical family Rabiacetr, in which an
the Peruvian-Bark and Coffee trees
and is q good example Of what botanist
call a dimorphous flower, or one having
two forms. In some tufts allthe flower
have exserted or protruding stamens
with included stigmas; in Others tn
stamens are included and the stigma
exsertcd. Appearing about the sam
time in March, are the Hepatscd, Ra
Anemone, ArJutus and Viola Viltpsa
The first two, belonging to the lst Nat
/ Family, Ranmculacese, and having reg
y nlar howers, afford our young botonist
= good examples for analysis. The NOR
beautiful Anemone nemoroSa, or Win
Flower, u ' y. -" '''
The GOV Anemone that neer uncloses %
Her lips until they're blown on by the wind
! does not appear TIL later, The we
o known and well beloved Arbutus {
Ground Laurel, is the earliest membe
of tire Eficdcete, one Of the largest flois
families of the Plateau, including til
n Wintergreen, kalmia, Azalea, Rhode
b derdyon, Huckleberry, Deerberry an
e Oxydendrum or Sour Wood.
= During the mouth we have added
orr list Of ferns the Com1aoSmus {
: Walking Leaf, Which bears but sliel
resemblance to most other ferns. |
y simple, lanc3olate frond, with hea
T. shaped base, is prolonged into a rune
e which takes root producing anew plan
u Those making frrneries will find this
Is desirable species, as it grows really al
u is an evergreen. Inquiries have bee
IL made about the English Maiden Ha
Spleenwort."' This beautiful little "wot
nymph" grows abundantly among II
N rocks sheltered by the overhanging if
81 1t is the AspIenium Trichom,mes, an
., though differing widely from the Anne
:, lean Maiden Hair, it will at first sigh
~ from some likeness in stipe aud leaf
~ always remind one OF the latter.
4 NJ. S. P.