Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-26

are still holding forth; also very occa-
sional violet in the woods. In the early
spring you will find thousands, nay, mil
lions, where you can one at this late day.
BEAUTY UNAPPRECIATED.
am confident that most of our city folk
are of the opinion that there are precious
few wild flowers of any account in the
neighboring woods. They have not formed
this opinion from any good reason, but
simply because they have never taken the
trouble to investigate their surroundings.
1t is left for strangers to tell Pittsburgers
how beautiful the setting of their city is.
Go out into the suburbs and prove 1t for
yourselves. Along either of our three
rivers you will see bits that are equal to any
in the neighborhood Of the famed Hudson.
The smaller streams present in places every
bit as pretty studies as either of the Paint
creeks at Scalp Level or that AWFUL named
Connoquenessing at Wurtemburg. The
woods reveal vistas as lovely a sever greeted
mortal eye anywhere. And in the proper
season these same woods are made glad to
the view by the presence of an innumerable
congregation of wild flowers such as YER
vain, harebell, ginsengs, bellworts. silver
weeds and June succery. to say nothing of
the blue and yellow violets and bluets
(houstonia) that greet you everywhere.
WILL THRIVE IN YOUR SAUCER.
BY the way, there is a peculiarity about
the dainty little plant last named that is
worth mentioning. 1t is known to love the
bright warm hillside where it can wink and
blink at the sun the whole day long. You
will find but few down near the water. But
take bunch home and place it in a saucer
on the window-sill, and in short time it
will brace up and bloom bravely for six or
seven weeks. 1t is beautiful little thing
and there is no trouble in getting it during
May;it will be found growing in great sheets
on the hillsides to the southwest of the city
Whether singly or in groups it is a most
pleasing sight
We must not forget the wild roses, either
Perhaps most people know them best as
sweet briar. Some of our local woods are
just full of this growth, and but few years
since it bloomed profusely in the spring
months, but of late the vandalism of our
American youth has so weakened the shrubs
by repeated wounds that few, if any, bloom
nowadays.
IT GILDS THE HILLSIDES.
OF course everybody knows the common
snapdragon when he sees it, for all of our
hills are dotted with the bright yellow
growth. The mandrake or "Mavapple," as
it is best known, also puts forth lovely
flower in the early sprlngtime. 1t is large
waxen blossom of the purest white, with
rich orange or yellow center. In any of the
woods, and particularly those to the south
ward of the city, they grow in abundance.
There is one spot within half an hours
journey of the center of the city that is we'll
worth q visit by those W no love wild flowers
1t should be made, of course, during the
early days of spring-the time when wild
flowers are in their glory. The place re-
ferred to is glen or small valley extending
from High Bridge, on the Pittsburg and
Castle Shannon Railroad, to the borders Of
Knoxville. l do not know of any spot in
the county that presents any more charming
bits Of natural scenery than this at almost
any time of the year. Through its entire
length a little stream winds its way. Here
and there it tumbles over miniature falls,
one of which is at least ten feet high. On
either side the slopes are densely wooded
Beech, maple, sumach, oak, dogwood and
crab-apple mingle in disorder
GARB OF THE sPRINGTIME.
As soon as the SHOWS have melted away
these woods begin to a6orn themselves in a
floral way, and even before that at times
YOU will find in some sheltered nook a
bunch of violets in full bloom.
But, when at last the days OF frost and cold
are gone Tor good, the violets or Johnny
iump-ups" il you will have them SO, come
trooping forth in droves. With them you will
find myriads of bluets, liver-worts prim-
roses, etc. At the same time the shrubs, not
to be outdone by their lowly brethren, put
on garb of blossoms and eventually there
comes time when from the neighborins
hilltops the little valley appears to be
foliaged in white and pink, while its
fragrance fills the air within a radius of
half mile.
This is not the only place of the kind in
this vicinity. l have mentioned it in par
ticular simply because it is SO near the city.
As said before, it is worth visit, and
whoever does SO will be convinced that there
is no necessity for long trips if one wants
pastoral scenery of the loveliest kind.
- W. G. KAUFMANN.