Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-26
1.-THE LAND OF FLOWERS"

that flOriQI earns II wei. we Enu iduA1
with nothing in the appellation save that
definite the" This would appear as in
tended to imply that Florida is the only
land Of flowers, or at least, that Florida
leads in that direction. Don't think that
way until you have visited Texas and stud
led her flora the season through. All our
vast territory is even now but one contin-
uous flower garden, so TO speak. We have
been in Florida at all seasons, and have VS.
tied near every other state OF the Union
during their seasons of greatest glory in
wild flowers, and with this 10 say il IS still
left Us TO assert that we have never met
with any section OF locality that could at all
compare with Texas, generally, in album
dance and maguifcence of indigenous flow
ers
Our broad prairies and the bottom lands
along our streams are ii the time of this
writing, (say April 2i), virtually ablaze
with floral splenGor To make the case
plain let Us suppose you out for ramble
over our platries, and that you have as
cended to an em:nence on the brow of some
cscarpment overlooking the general level
Is well as the vallcr it faces. The entire
surface Of The region IS carpeted with
short Growth Of bright, green grass set here
and there with conspicuous flowers of al
most every conceivable size and shape. It
Is = carpet figured in flowers, sure enough.
Away of a. far rs the eye can reach spreads
this carpet of living green, broken only
along the valleys where streams flow, BY
10Th
foliage
No, this IS not exactly correct. OF Won
der to the right is a spot of many acres pre-
sentinga peculiar greenish-yeilow tint con-
trasting plainly with the general soft green
Of the plair.es To the left is similar
spot, in front another, TO rear another with
others III other directions. and at varied
distances from the site chosen for observa-
tons. VIVA, do these changes Of tint mean2
You 20 10 the nearest spot for the purpose
Of investigating the phenomenon. You
lind flowers. flowers, tiowers-a regular
field Of flowers. with 100 different species
III full representation 1t is one Of natures
great flower gardens as peculiar to Texas
q spo, where by some means or other the
themselves as 10 get the better of the
grasses. retaining il their midst only
Of the latter TO impart to the garden 4
pleasant greenishness.
I'ou continue your rambles 10 the wooded
valley and there they are again; flowers in
ny riads, flowers on trees, flowers on
shrubs flowers on vines. flowers on herba-
=. l,,,- oil
Of species entirely different from those seen
upon the prairies.
Such is the land Of flowers that Texas IS
to-day, and such she viii remain with more
or less conspicUity until the frosts Of late
autumn have called her deciduous plants to
their short winters rest.
The prevailing color OF our wild flowers
1t this season Of the year is 4 clear sulphur
yellow. though we have flowers of other
colors in considerable abundance, as white,
pale blue, purple and violet The last named
color is well represented in a very snowy
verbeua which grows i'll large patches on
the prairie-indeed cverywhere-and will
continue in bloom until the appearance of
frost A little later and the sulphur-col-
cred flowers viii be succeeded by yellow
flowers or 1 deeper OF more golden hue, as
that of the suntlower, for instance. And
forsooth, the sunflower itself is here in its
millions as I wild plant, being as tall, as
conspicuous and Is attractive as any of the
cultivated varieties. It comes into bloom
about the last of June and continues in
flower To the end Of the season. With the
darker yellow flowers will come many
prominent white, red blue and purple
species. About the first of July some of
these purple species will be SO plentiful in
many portions Of the state as to impart a
purplish tint to the landscape over many
miles in extent. There will also be divers
beautiful foliage plants, not few having
their attractions in habit of growth with
LARGE aud peculiar leaves. while the attrac-
lions Of others will rest in the color of
The foliage some being sharply marked
With white and some with red or purple
As fall approaches the blue and the pur-
pie flowers will appear in a fair way for
becoming masters OF the situation, but ere
their fun predominancy can be regarded as
au established fact. there will appear with
q suddeucss almost smacking of magic, 4
Jcw array OF yellow flowers in force suff-
Gent 10. in very many sections. completely
drown from he face of the prailies all
other opposing rolors. The person on his
first tour of Texas n this season of the
Year Will be strangely impressed by an alb
scnce OF the usual green TO which he has
pecu accustomed in other regions, and the
substitution of a golden landscape stretching
10 the horizon in every direction, having
upon it the golden hills looming up in the
distance Us far is his vision can take them
f..
This yellow fall forage will hold the fort
on 10 the season when Texas, like Florida,
ceases, for a brief period. 10 own any just
rights for being styled the land of flow
eis"
Our cnterprisiug florists DESTROYS of in
Producing new and attractive flowers often
visit distant countries TO look them up.
They do not appear TO realize for moment
that here in Texas. almost n the doors OF
their propagation houses, lies prolific
field in their line unworlled, is yet. to any
extent worth naming. Some of the most
popular Towering plants now on thei" lists