The Fort Worth gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-189?, 1891-04-30
"rHE LAND OF FLOWERS"

that Florida earns it well. We find fault
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 fora the season through. All oTn
vast territory is even now but one contn-
nous 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 II IS still
left US 10 assert that we have never net
with any section or locality that could at all
compare with Texas, generally, in abun-
dance and ma gnificence of indigenous How
IT'S
Our broad prairies and the bottom lands
along our streams are at the time OF this
writing, SAY April pa, virtually ablaze
with floral splcudor To make the case
plain let rs suppose YOU out for ramble
over our prairies, and that YOU have as
cended to an emineuce on the brow of some
cscarprnent overlooking the general level
as veil as the valley it faces. The entire
-urlace of the region is carpeted with a
hort Growth Of bright, green grass set here
ua there with conspicuous flowers Of al
most every conceivable size and shape. Il
IS 4 carpet figured in flowers, sure enough.
Away of as far as the eye can reach spreads
This carpet Of living green, broken only
along the valleys where streams flow. by i
somewhat darker shade of tree-growth
foliage
No, this is not exactly correct. OF yon-
der TO the right is a spot Of many acres pre-
senting a peculiar greenish-yellow tint con-
trasting plainly with the general soft green
Of the prairies. To the left is similar
spot. in front another. to rear another with
others in other directions, and al varied
distances from the site chosen for observa-
lions. What do these changes Of tint mean,
You go 10 the nearest spot for the purpose
of investigating the phenomenon. You
find flowers. flowers, fowers-a regular
field OF flowers, with 100 different species
in full representation. IT is one of natures
great flower gardens as peculiar to Texas
a spot where by some means or other the
Towering plants have 50 thicllly coloniZed
themselves as 10 get the better of the
grasses, retaining in their midst only
of the latter 10 impart 10 the garden Il
pleasant greenishness.
You continue your rambles to the wooded
valley and there they are again; flowers in
myriads, flowers on trees, flowers on
shrubs, flowers on vines, flowers on herba-
ceous plants, and flowers on grasses, but all
upon the prairics.
Such is the land Of flowers that Texas is
to-day, and such she will remain with more
or less conspicuity until the frosts of late
autumn have called her dcciduous plants to
their short winters rest
The prevailing color OF our wild flowers
at this season of the year is a clear sulphur
yellow though we have flowers of other
colors in considerable abundance Is white
pale blue, purple and violet The last named
color is well represented in very snowy
verbena which grows in large patches on
rhc prairie-indeed everywhcre-and will
continue in bloom until the appearance of
frost. a little later and the sulphul-col-
cred flowers will be succeeded by yellow
flowers or deeper or more golden hue, rs
That of the sunflower, for instance. And
jorsoo1h, the sunfower itself IS here in It's
millions IS 4 wild plant, being as tail, rs
conspicuous and as attractive as any of the
cultivated varieties. II comes into bloom
about the last OF June ana continues i'll
flower to tine end Of the season. With the
prominent white, red. blue and purple
species. About the first of July some of
these purple species viii be SO plentiful in
many portions of the state as 10 impart
purplish tint to the landscape over many
miles in extent. There will also be divers
beautiful foliage plants, not Z few having
their attractions in habit of growth with
large and peculiar leaves, while the attrac-
lions Of others Will rest in the color of
tie foliage, some being sharply marked
with white and some with red or purple
rs fall approaches the blue and The pur-
f'lt NV CTS " III appear III II HUI Why iDE
becoming masters of the situation. but ere
1neir fun uredominancy can be regarded as
an established fact, there will appear with
= suddeness almost smacking OF magic.
new array of yellow flowers in force SUM-
cjent 10, in very many sections, completely
drown from the face of the prairics all
other opposing colors. The person on his
first tour Of Texas at this season of the
wear Will be strangely impressed by an alb
sence of the usual green 10 which he has
been accustomed il other regions, and the
ola golden landscape stretching
10 the horizon in every direction, having
Upon il the golden hills looming up in the
distance as far as his vision can take them
in
This yellow fail forage viii hold the fort
on TO the season when Texas, like Florida,
ceases. for a brief period to own any Just
! rights for being styled the land Of flow
ors"
Our enterprising florists DESTROYS of in
new and attractive flowers often
visit distant countries 10 look them up.
They do not appear 10 realize for moment
that here in Texas. almost at the doors of
their propagation houses, lies 4 prolific
field in their line unworked. as vet, TO any
extent worth naming. Some OF the most