The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-05-01
Native Shrubs and Vines.

1t is surprising to find how little
knowledge many persons who really
love flowers have of our native plants.
They notice them growing by the high
way and in the pastures, but they
never think Of giving them a place in
the garden. Indeed, if they saw them
growing there they would hardly recog-
nize them, for they have never given
them any attention. They have TO-
nored them simply because they were
common. If they were brought from
some foreign country, given a long
name, and attractively described in the
catalogues of the florists, almost every
one would want to buy plant. / wish
| could impress the young people with
the fact that the plants in the woods
and fields are just as beautiful as those
which foreign collectors send us, and
succeed in arousing in them an interest
which would lead to the formation of
societies for the collection of native
plants. l would like to have society
formed in each neighborhood whose
object should be to gather shrubs and
vines hitherto neglected and give them
a place in the garden. Suppose YOU
try this. Have an American cor
ner," in which nothing of foreign
origin shall find place. You would
be surprised TO find what an attractive
place it could be made. Many persons
have no shrubs or vines because they
can not afford to buy high-priced
plants and don't like to ask their more
fortunate neighbors to give them some
of theirs. Let me suggest to the boys
and girls that they 60 out into the
woods and fields and when they come
across pretty shrub or vine take it
up and plant it carefully in the home
yard. 1t may not be as rare as some
neighbours plants are. but it may be
quite as beautiful for all that, and it is
beauty that we want, not rarity. One
of the prettiest of all shrubs is the wild
rose. 1t makes fine show in spring,
with its delicate flowers, and later with
its scarlet fruit 1t is easily trans
planted and soon becomes large bush.
Another is the sumach. We have no
brighter plant in the fall than this,
with its scarlet and yellow crowns of
foliage, and to this attraction it adds
that of its crimson berry-clusters which
remain all winter and produce a fine
effect when the ground is white with
snow. 1t will become quite a tree in
time. There are two or three varieties
of native honeysuckle of shrubbery
growth, and one that climbs much like
the Chinese variety, which produces
clusters of bright-red fruit. The dog
woods are beautiful at all seasons. So
are our native elders and spireas.
Among the vines there is nothing finer
than the ampelopsis, or American ivy,
often called Virginia creeper. 1t grows
almost everywhere. You will find it
away up on the hills and down in the
low, moist places. In the fall its foil
age turns to a brilliant crimson and
maroon, and the tops of the trees into
which it has grown will have the ap-
pearance of being covered with vivid
flowers. 1t often reaches height of
fifty feet. 1t clings to whatever sur
face it comes in contact with by means
of sucker-like disks at the ends of its
tendrils. 1t is one of the few American
plants that have attracted the attention
of foreign flower-lovers. In England
it is the rival of the ivy and is being
extensively grown there. The bitter
0"SSt1 Vi tSiaSli U.S. 10 duulHtI DtdullIul
vine. 1t has pretty foliage of bright
green through the summer and clear
goden-yellow in the fall. Its fruit is
borne in clusters along its many
branches. Each berry is inclosed in a
shell of orange color. This shell splits
into three parts and turns back, disclos-
ing bright-red berry within These
clusters are retained all winter if the
birds let them alone. Much use is
made of them for Christmas decoration.
This vine is excellent for training about
porches and over gateway arches.
Another native is the Clemdtis Vir-
ginidnd, or virgins bower. 1t dies
down to the ground each year. In
spring it sends up many stems which
reach a height of ten and twelve feet.
In July it will be almost completely
covered with feathery white flowers of
delightful fragrance. After the flow
ers have fallen the seeds develop little
tufts of silky plumes, which make the
plant very attractive. These are often
gathered for the winter decoration of
the parlor. 1t is not necessary to ex-
tend the list of attractive American
plants. If you 60 out into the fields
and woods with your eyes open you
will discover them. They are to be
had for the taking. Plant them about
the house. Take care of them, and
soon you will have as much reason to
be proud of your collection as your
more wealthy neighbor has of his
Eben H. RerfOrd