The morning call., 1890-06-19
WILD FLOWERS.
The Contest for the Trophy in
Santa Cruz County.
The First Prize Awarded to the Jefferson
School, Which Collected 34S Species.
Extra Prizes.

est number of varieties TO carry off the
trophy. The suggestion attracted consid-
cradle attention at home and abroad and
resulted in vigorous contest, one IN which
teacher and pupil str0ve to secure the
greatest number Of the beautiful wild flOw-
ers found on the rugged hills or attractive
valleys CT one of California's choicest re-
gi0ns. The prize was awarded to the JEFF
ferson School, of which Miss Josie Cole
hover is teacher. Jefferson was, however,
but three ahead of Glenwood, of which
Miss Myrtle Hoff is teacher. and there
were TWO others that attained and passed
the 500 point-Laurel, of which Miss Allie
CulverWell is teacher. and Aqua Puerca,
taught by Miss Tedy Glow. Extra prizes
were awarded to these in recognition of
their earnest efforts and pronounced sue
cess.
Below is given resume by DR.. Anderson
of the record made by each school, with
some remarks of commentator and counsel
added.
LAUREL.
The first district to respond was Laurel.
of which Miss Alice Culyerwell is teacher.
| Nearly every day came bundle Of ferns
and flowers. II perseverance toward at
tanning the object were to be rewarded this
district would be fully entitled to it, There
was unfortunately at the beginning lack
of system in collecting that afterward
could not be corrected. Many new and
rare things were sent-some kinds that were
not recorded from other districts. But
want of a careful determination of species
was the only cause of the slight failure.
| The district is beautifully situated for
variety and profusion of flowers. 1t is on
the narrow-gauge railroad in the Santa
| Cruz Mountains, some twelve miles from
Santa Cruz. A species Of orchid, not before
found in this region, was sent by Miss Gull
| yerwell.
This district is little beyond Laurel.
| The teacher is Miss Myrtle HOtf. The sur
rounding flora is similar to that of Laurel.
! Persistent and careful research brought to
I hand great number of species Dupli-
| Gates were seldom sent, SO careful were
the recollection and determination of spe-
cies. But three numbers were wanting to
make tie Tor the prize Miss Hotf ana her
pupils deserve prize at any rate. Marty
every day came the modest little bouquet
| of flowers, nearly every one counting. The
last eyening-in fact the last flowers re-
ceived in this contest-MisS HGff brought
| in her hand about ten specimens, saying
Here are five more" And so it proved.
Had she brought still three more, and then
| what?
This district is well situated for variety
and embraces a wide extent OF canyons
| and highlands, hillside and forests. Miss
Stella Skinner is the teacher. FELTON, did
| well Tor season and sent many beautiful
| flowers and in great profusiOn. Brodi, eas,
larkspurS, lilies and orchids, not often seen,
came twice or thrice week. But for some
reason or other-either from fatigue or
more pressing duties-th9 number of species
lacked couple Of hundred of what it
might have been. All the flowers sent from
FELTON, were picked by the children of the
primary grades, who are very young and
| yet were very enthusiastic and seemed
well informed concerning plants and
flowers.
JEFFERSON
Is situated a couple or three miles from
Santa Cruz in what in olden times was
called "Squabble Hollow" Miss Josie
Colehower Is teacher. 1t did not seem to be
much trouble to pick up 34S species, aud
duplicates were not often sent. This dis
trict has great variety of flora, and there
were things not collected. The teacher and
pupils seemed to un, tie in determining what
had or had not been sent and doubtless in
addition to the prize received have also a
prize OF valuable Information.
MOUNTAIN.
Miss Minnie Wenck is teacher. This dis
trict is in the valley Of the Sequel, about
three or four miles above the village of
uUc lOIdl ItSlOu. MANY pIclly
flowers were sent, but not half the number
that might easily have been collected.
There were some beautiful ferns, and quite
a variety. Also a Cardinal Mimulus, only
sent from one other district
aqua PUERCA.
This district is situated up the coast some
sixteen miles ,at Davenport. 1t was a zeal
satisfaction to examine the flowers as they
came from time to time all arranged in nice
little packages, each specie separate. Aqua
Puerca and ledy Glow deserve honorable
mention Tor the careful and systematic
manner of making and sending the collec
tiOus. We are sorry they were not in the
majority; but majorities are not always
right This district sent some fine Towering
specimens Of tue sO-called nutmeg tree
(tOrreya). Also many other varieties, among
which we must not neglect to mention the
Rhododendron Californicum, which is
species common IN northern coast countries,
but fluids its southern limit IN Santa Cruz,
so far as known. Our aZalea is Rhododen-
dron occldentals.
HAPPY VALLEY.
The district is some four or five miles
from Santa Cruz. up the BTancifOrte Creek.
Miss Emma Helmke, teacher. About 200
species of flowers were sent perhaps
third of what might be found there There
were some very pretty things, The mad
rono flowers were beautiful. There was
also quite a nice collection of grasses.
VALENCIA.
This is district near Aptos and a splen-
did place for flowers Miss Teresa Leonard
is teacher. Some of the most beautiful wild
flowers one could wish to see came from
Valencia. There were two species of orchids
in one package that were charmingly sweet
(Corrallorhiza strata and Begelovi). The
only fault with Valencia was 1t quit too
| soon, only having sent about 125 species.
But quality should be considered as well as
numbers
ZAYANTE
Is in the San Lorenzo valley, about three
miles above FELTON,. Miss Josie Buena is
the teacher. The number of species sent
| from this district was go. The flowers
| were fine and embraced many rare ones.
Another orchid. not sent by any other dis
trict, came from Zayante. 1t was the
Habenaria leucOstachys; also the lady's
slipper (Cypripedium montanum), another
beautiful orchid of our mountains.
VINE HILL
Is near the summit of the first range of
mountains seven or eight miles northerly
| of Santa Cruz Miss Marie Pioda is the
teacher. 1t is rich floral region, and the
packages (only two contained 2l9 species,
all well selected and conveniently packed
There were some thirty species Of grasses
| Vine Hill did well, but another effort or
| two would have secured her the prize. 1t
should be said that the school in this dis
trict has but few pupils and closed some
time before the close Of the contest. Thirty
five varieties were picked by w. w. Water
mans children in one mornings walk to
school.
| BOULDER CREEK.
| This is the district of gentle showers"
where all the aeecy clouds camp down on
mild winter days. Our water supply
comes from that ELECTROMAGNETIC
| of the ten yards of rainfall during the past
season we have been led to expect a big
- a., NJ
pointed; only 225 species were reported.
Nal ny rare flowers grow in the vicinity of
Boulder. II combines the wet and the dry
| region fora. Some of the densest redwood
| forests grow near there. But 1t requires
time and some knowledge to get the plants
where they are to be found. Miss Lilly
Mathews is teacher.
| BALD MOUNTAIN.
This district is some eight or ten miles
| nOrtherly from Santa Cruz, on the noun