The morning news., 1891-02-16
POSIES THE YEAR ROUND
SAVANNAH THE FLOWER-GARDEN
OF HE SOUTH.

I
People Know the Richness Of It's
Flora - Gardens that Bloom With
Color and Fragrancs from One Years
End to Another-Some Of Natures
Choicest Ornaments.
The casual visitor, and the Savannahian
even, who has not investigated the matter
have little idea of the variety of flowers
that can he found in the city at this season
of the year. growing in the open air, un-
protected from the changes OF temperature
that come so suddenly and frequently.
Most of those who take no especial inter-
est in such matters would probably be at a
loss to mention even a half dozen.
Japonicas and roses would readi,
ly suggest themselves. The former
thrust themselves on the sight from every
garden. From pure white to the deepest
red, with every intervening shade, and here
and there variegated specimen in which
spots and stripes of white and red struggle
for supremacy, they form host of beauty
that brighteLs up the occasional day of
murky gloom, and adds still more to the
splendor of those days when clear, blue
skies and bright, warm sunshine suggest
early May in more northern clmes.
OF the latter there is not such a plenty,
but they are yet abundant enough to at
tract attention.
A DIVISION OF HoNoRs.
Though crowned queen of flowers, there
are many who now waver In their
allegiance, who would fain divide the honor
with the pure, icy-looking camellia, made
immortal by the pen of genius, or it's blood
Were it not for that subtle
odor. that once inhaled cliDgs fast to the
memory forever, coming back with all its
sweetness at the mention of its name, this
winter sovereign of the south might de-
throne the rose in the affections of many.
Deprived of that essence of delight,
| pleasure to the eye only, 1t cannot cope sue
| cessfully with its rival, endowed alike with
beauty and perfume.
OF these two any one can tell. But there
the majority stops. Though gifted with
| sight they see not. To them nature offers
| her charms in vain. Winter, they say, Is a
time of barrenness. But not so. They are
| simply blind 10 the adornments the earth Is
now wearing.
FLOWERS EVERYWHERE.
Though they see but two there are two
| score A walk of an hour through the
southern part of the city will show where
they can be found. At one place will be
seen the rhododendron, perhaps with balls
|
white, ing in purity with the japonioa;
| or Of the deepest red. Side by side with it,
with its clusters Of little, golden, fuzzy
balls, filling the air with fragrance
may grow the .opoponex. A
cluster or two will fill room with sweet
ness. Or near by one may find the equally
fragrant nArcissus, with its cup of gold and
its petals OF silver. Here, or somewhere
else, jonquils will be met, yellow and sweet,
and SO abundant as to be called common.
| ALL CoLoRs TO CHOOSE FROM.
If the eye tired of white and yellow there
is blue to refresh it, One does not have to
search far to find it III the azalia. Perhaps
something more modest, more reqir.
ing, and yet with delicious
| delicate sweetness all its own, is desired.
Glance under some bush, or in some out of
| the way corner, and there enough violets
for boutonniere can be found. They may
also be found growing out along the banks
of the canal, but those wild ones lack the
fragrance that careful cultivation has aided
in developing in the others.
Somewhere else, very likely in the adjoin-
ing garden, some pansies will look up with
their deep velvet faces, that, il flowers have
| any expression, wear an air of confidence.
heartsease. too, which are really nothing
but small pansies, are more than likely to
| be near by.
| uESuo GueSS luNeSbIRdDlOns luSD a nLtl0
farther, and snowdrops, those pretty droop-
ing bells of white with hearts OF straw
color, may be found. They are not COM
mon, but in some gardens they have been
given prominent place.
LONG LIST TO REMEMBER.
The list is a long one, but the half has not
been told. Here is a rare and odd looking
flower which has been well named 1t is
the butterfly, with white wings and body
of yellow. 1t does not take much of q
stretch of the imagination to see the aptness
OF the title. Unlike most flowers of unique
character, it is fragrant
China asters also abound. Much hunting
is not required TO find them. They are
abundant and of all colors Perhaps the
fact that they are so hardy and easily raissd
may have something to do with this. There
are the tea olive, the Madeira vine. the
purple lilac, the hyacinth and others that
aid in robbing February of the dreariness
that fills in It's twenty-eight days elsewhere.
Lovers of flowers will add others
to the list and will tell the inquirer of the
gladiolus, the bridal rose, and perhaps
enough Of others to make up several score.
Savannah in mid-winter is not flower.
less. Savannah never knows time, from
tho beginning of a year to its end, when a
bouquet cannot be plucked combining
variety of color and Of fragrance.
a SOUTH BOUND RUMOR