New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22
ALONG THE BRONX.
MAY AMONG VIOLETS, ANEMONES, COLUM-
GINES AND FRAGRANT APPLE BLOSSOMS.


bird upon it's nest. patiently awaiting the new life that
Is about to burst into being. With
Springs delicious trouble in the ground
possible 10 bury for time the troubles
that are less delicious. The rod blossoms OF the
swampmaple against the blue Of the sky, the golden
showers Of pollen shed BY the willowcakins, added
sensbly to ones pleasure month ago. Tho April
woods full Of promise, but the May woods hold
the double charm OF promise and achievement.
Surely blessing waits upon those who live close ID
Nature, who follow faithfully her moods ana lenses
Our city people could acquire something OF this bless
ing IL they would, for a weekly stroll In the woods
keeps in touch with matters there and 10 cents
in money and twenty-one minutes in time will carry
to Bedford Park the most convenient entrance to
that lovely heritage Of children the Bronx Park
Few NEWCOMERS have followed the windngs Of the
pretty river that threads its along the base Of
great cliffs shaded by glorious hemocks. hemlocks that
would be glorious in the Catskll Mountains as well a.
in New-York City Few realize that artist orni-
biologist, and above all. bOtanIst take his fill in
mornings stroll and yet leave countless objects un-
explored countless beauties undlsturbed, within tho
very limits Of our city.
These May days when the woods still feahery,
vet able TO cast pale, cool shadow, when the green
delicate yet becoming deeper every hour, when the
flowers which burst through the Wondering leaves OF
last year have the fragile loveness that is born Of
contact with adversely. then is to be wondered that
from the hot noisy streets OF the TO the cool rest
funes Of this the ovsliest Of their pleasure grounds
One would suppose that the softened gray Of tho
old LOrllard manor house, seen through the sprny-ko
branches Of the forest, that the In the river
above the falls where catches the lengthcned
lovely glimpse Of the reflected overarchng trees would
be enough TO entice the artist from the tapestred
STIFFNESS Of his town studio into the aromatic fresh
ness Of May morning the Bronx that the CHEEKY
notes Of the meadow lark and the buebrd the glossy
sheen Of the purple grackle, the liquid song ID the
field sparrow would be greeting delightful 20 the bird
lover who would be tins welcomed almost
he left the station and struck the old orchard
pink with promise, which makes short cut TO the
teasing woods beyond But for the flower lover above
all the Bronx is happy hunting ground tramplins
heedessy under foot the gold OF the dandelon and e
cinquefOi, the white Of the wild strawberry, he soon
reaches the border OF that stretch Of lovely woodland
of which he Is part owner. The rank leaves OF the
skunk cabbage make bright patches of light where
the road meets the river, but the tiny flowers hidden
in their purple spathes have died away. and the
gesive odor longer poutes the spring breeze These
of the year been succeeded BY myrads
OF spring beauties which lifting their dainty
roseveined faces In the sunlight like children waiting
to be kissed, or else are poutng with closed petals In
the shadow like the spoiled pnkcheeked darlinss
when their wishes have been crossed.
The waters edge is blue with vioets chiefly OF tho
COHlfuWi 'ul@tS, Uut Here anu theIc are Oh
the lovely bird foot with It's narrow. claw-ke leaves
so unlike those Of the ordinary violet, and large.
vevety, deep purple flowers. Along the path that
skirts the rivers lower shore the In-the pulpit
preaching their mute sermons. One notices that
the Unfolding leaf spathe in one plant Is deeply
vened with purple. while In another It is Of
what uniform light green. This difference In
color indicates the Of the plant, which is recog-
nixed by all English children, who divide them insO
alords, and "ladies.' There is legend to the eect
that the spathe received its purple stains at the
Crucifxon
Beneath, the cross It grew;
And in the vase-like hollow OF rhe leaf,
Catching from that dread shower OF agonv
into the groves and hills their healing stains.
\ heritage, for storm vernal shower
Never to blow away.
The Indians were accustomed to cook the rootstock
or CORN Of this plant for food hence Of It's
mon titles. Indian turnip, while more local name,
memory root sprang from the schoolboy trick Of in
vng others TO bite into the aGd CORN with an
effect sufficiently unpleasant to create memorable
impression.
In close proximity to the "loris and ladies' Slows
an equally arstocratc though unpretentious little
plant, the bellwort OF the lily family, with
smiax like leaves, and modest yellow flower
dropping beneath: also the purple cranesbill or wild
gcranum, with radiant pink or purple petals ana
little sign as yet Of the lcag brlike beak In which
both of its common names originate, for geranium
Is from the Greek Tor crane
Here and there the ground Is carpeted with the
pointed mottled leaves OF the adders-tongue. the
earliest lily Of all, which was In its glory month
ago and with the delicate foliage OF the Dutchmans
ecches or whitehearts which also things Of
the past
Before reaching the bridge that carries one across
the river lust below the falls the path Is bortlered
with pretty vine that is blue with tiny blossoms
This is Gilover theground, little immigrant from
Euroe that has happily made Itself entirely at homo
here and Is a first cousin Of the wellmown catnip.
Beneath the great hemocs there is little to be found
Is yet. Here and there Is a Struggling hVefwort
which has long lost its blossoms flor this is said to DO
our earliest spring hower, and various low evergreen
plants such the pygOla, shnleaf, partndge'oery
I'D wintergreen none OF which will blossom Tor
line yet but which bear in many cases the bright
rcd berries OF last summer.
once out OF the hemlocks into the feathery, I'M
iuating woods beyond 1t is May indeed Here
Gay circles OF anemoncs
Dance on their stalks.
Roth the wooi-anemOne with its single stariiko
blossom. and the rue-anemone, bearing Its faintly
inted flowers IN clusters, abundant. one recalls
he old legend OF Vanus In the forest, shedding Over
he body of her dead AdOnis the passionate teaS
which sprang to life In the anemones.
From the base Of a superb old oak spring the tiny
clustered flowers Of the dwarf ginseng not the
ynseng so beloved OF the Chinese that their Emperor
llone is permitted to gather Its roots. which are sup
,osed TO possess The power OF prolongng youth oss
Is younger sister, often called the Ground-nut Sn
recount Of its little round, pungenttastng tuber
which Is buried SO deep In the earth.
To the right Of these shady glades lane opens
M, another vista Of spring lovelinss such feathey.
ookinC lane Just now fall of seductive promise.
,iydcd by low stone wall from rosy apple orchard
m one side butressed the other by rocky clR
rom the cievccs Of which flames the beautiful
Columbnc with horn Of honey
What graceful pretty flower 1t Is, nodding from It's
teep perch with Its brilliant contrast of red and
elbow against lis delicate foliage. The early saHl-
rage OF stonebrcak' the Germans appropriately
ali II, whiens the smaller of the same
ir. and above both the real and the false
.olomOns seal curve their graceful leafy stems,
, hlch bear as yet only small green buds which
iced a week of sunshine TO be tempted into blossom
II the same immature condition Is their pretty little
clative maianthemum Canadense, which can as Yet
lain no English name. but Is often called by un.