The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-06-27
MONTANA SPRING FLORA.
Hslsna's Proud Emblem, Donglasia
Montana, Claimed by Other
Sections.
How tho Name OF q Popular
Proaoher-BotAnis Will Be
Handed Down.

IN InssrestinE Article From tho Pom Of
+. A. Fitch, on this Flower Of
Great State.
The best publication OF IT. kind in the
ntsr-mountain region 10 The Rockies, pub
lishsd 81 Dillon, Mont. II II q monthly
magazine OF western literature. and though
ths June II but tho second number, II IL
full Of good things. especially interesting
to Montanians. II deserves the support OF
every loyal Montanian, 90 long % it ID kept
mp to it, present high standard. Inoorpor-
ated in the magazine Is q department de-
voted to tho interests of the schools OF the
Rocky mountain region. Among the most
interesting articles in the June number II
n entitled Spring Flowers, by T.. A. Fitch,
Of Sheridan. which il reproduced as fol-
lows:
In the hurry OF life man often forgets 70
rest. but nature never does herself this In
justice. Winter is TO the vegetable kingdom
what night should be to 4 msn-a period
Of rest. II IL after this rest that one 10 at
his best, mentally and physically. And
likewise tho flowers. after their winter of
rest, como forth to greet rs in the early
springtime with renewed vigor and beauty.
'Tis true an occasional one mistakes the
warm and balmy days Of February for
spring. and being Of a venturesome nature
comes forth to greet Us. having mistaken
the dawn for the daylight--as some people
do when they rise before the sun. Thus
our eyes we're %Rladdened in the early days
Of March last BY the sight OF a wild straw
berry blossom and 4 pale and tender VIC
let; precursors Of their later sisters that
should rise from their sleep after a few
moro weeks OF resting. when spring had
really come to stay. AZ come shs did at last,
calling forth in their order. the members OF
her floral family.
One Of the earliest Montana flowers il
the donglasia montana { commonly known
rose family. whose habitat Coulter gives as
tho Mountains about Helena, Mont, and
the Owl creek mountains Of WYOMING"
Dr.. Kelsey calls II "Hslena's proud en-
blsnn." and says that many botanists in
European universities know Of Helsna as
the home Of denRlasis."
Honor be to whom honor is due" Far
~ - - AA0 W. IRAASA OAp k4ttlV
feather from the wing Of q proud and
loved capital; yet ! have in my possession
many specimens Of the beautiful donolasia
from Virginia City, kindly furnished me,
with many other species OF flowers for my
Columbian exhibit by Dr.. j. g. Head.
The flower. though beautiful when growing,
has no beauty whom pressed, which ID also
true OF many other species.
Could the oldest inhabitant'' Of our
former carital of the far famed Alder Guleh
DO found, IN sure he would affirm the rig ht
for Virginia City to "Helena's proud
emblem" for who knew Of Helena's coming
fame and glory in those early days?"
into every county of our state, asking if it
is q native Of their region, thereby hoping
The members of this different families
come sa,ly and stay late. The bright blue
anemones are among tho frst to come. but
they are soon followed by other members of
the orowfoot family, viz: the larkspur, but
teroup and purple otematis; while the
violet. mustard, fewort. p%alemonium,
pulse, parsley. lily, composite and purslane
families vie with each other in
having thsir members among the first
arrivals; nor must We forget the
dodeoatheon or shooting star of the prim-
rose family. Species Of all these have been
sent me this spring from Virginia City,
while l have secured many others from
this and adjacent localities. Noticeable
among the latter, a beautiful species of
blue phlox from Twin Bridges, but sweetly
named by Prof. n. L. Brltton, Of Column
bin collage. New York City, phlox kelsoyi,
IN honor Of Rev. F. D. Kelsey, of Helena,
found 1t near that city, while the late Dr..
Anderson found it in the Belt mountains,
in the northern part of this state; and al.
together they watched and waited for fur
ther developments, till now the classical
OF 'kslsoyi' will BE- handed down to
future generations as distinguishing the
bioomer, comnsncinr in Apri;
md lasting throughout the month of
II il in color a delicate tint of
blue. II seems to thrive best in alkali soil,
il needless TO say that il not found in
the vicinity OF Sheridan. On a recent trip
70 Whitshsll I found growing BY the road
slde at Iron Rod. tho cinquefoil and doni-
aetna. while in places the ground was COW
bred with a species OF bright azure blue 1tc-
wort. whose beauty impsllsd me to sto7
times to gather OF it a%bundantly.
A. W nea'ed Silver Star the fora changed.
not even the sams families we're repre-.
the most prominent and conspicu-
que one in bloom was the mustard, whose
denSs tufts of golden yellow looked out
AZ We came to Dust creek. in Jefferson
,ounty, there was another charge, the
Pulse family prsdominati there. On tho
way AZ We came by the old stage
Fouts from Helena, around by E. M. Pol
ranch. We found many clusters of
most exquisite little daisies Of pursst white.
There was also . species Of the Pulse fam
lly, whose ow dense tufts of white seemed
% havo emerged from tho ground in fall |
Those, with occasional dandslions,
and parsley completed tho fora OF
he roadside. Miss Edith Pollinpsr fur
,ishsd me with two species, one Of the Lily |
the other of the Pulse family, from the
nigh %mountains OF Bear Ruloh, both new to
ne % ate several others found in this To-
,ality this spring. As tho weeks 20 BY the
iora changes. and we must indeed be alert
n the full moaning of the word to secure d
air representation of it. The ''Sprinp
will soon be supplemented by
hose OF summer. while they, in their turn. |
will give place to the autumn ones, ever
eading up and on till another night at
shall overtake them.
Here's Your Chance. !
As we intend to leave Helena we offer for
ale our entire stock, good will and fixtures.
The location, Sixth avenue and Main
treet, il the best in the city.
The business ID Sl2, 600 monthly and on n