The sun., 1895-05-05
SPRING WILD FLOWERS.
Acres of Field and Woodland Cnrpcted with
ThOusnnds Of BIossoms.

Spring wild flowers arc here nt last not In
casonal spots. but all over the woodlands and
by thousands. From the time OF the earliest
blossom to this time of acres carpcted with
bloom seems long to the assiduous attendant
upon natures processes. Thrce weeks ago there
was only an occasional hepatica. To-day one
finds the spring beauty, the dog-tooth violet, the
bell anemone, the rue auemone. the field vio-
let the cowsp, AMI the blood root.
The bell ancm0ne came n few days before tho
rue anemOnc. The latter suddenly nbuu-
dant ono day, starring the woodlands and snow
ing the hedge-rows. The sprng beauty is the
most tantalizing of all the early blossoms. The
curious in such matters find the plant before
mid March. pale and meaningless beneath the
dead leaves, its embryo blossoms suggesting
punches of tiny green grapes. Two weeks later
its leaves, mere grassy spires. are springng up
everywhere within the woodland. especially in
damp places. 1t is afflicted with a rusty disease
that reddens ana dIstorls many of the leaves.
When tho spring beauty has reached
this state the hepatica is still invs-
ible save to careful searchers. The hepatica
loves fairly dry spot in the woodland, whcro
abundant sunshine bathcs the dead leaves You
come upon the blossoms unexpectedly in cheer
full groups of half a dozen, they and not the
foliage showing purple or white against the rus
set carpet. searching. YOU find last years half
uetu lttl hIapCu sbHlcWuut IKE tle ace OF cluDS.
The blossoms show II considerable range Of size
and color. The largest are about the diameter of
cent. The darkest are almost blue the pacst
nearly whtewith faint purplish tinge. IL is tho
jewel aInOng wild flowers, dcl.Catc!y wrought
exquisite In shape and color to tho least detail,
pluckcd and kept alive indoors for days.
Tho dog-tooth violet. with its Blk golden
petals. three OF them purll'sh brown without.
loves the rich mound AL the root of II tree. where
generations oi rottinE leaves have made Lcep
mould. Like conditions sometimes tempt it
romstart I" ilnish is picturesque ana charming,
and the unopened blossom Is y marvel of ma
most beautiful Of the woodland, and the paic
green leaves Of ono variety are quitcas bcaut-
IH as thoss # the ny % OF nhs ySll%y i phe par
name that shall Indicate It's species. The blos-
som grows 10 unusual size IN favored localities,
and is second in abundance only to the spring
beauty and the violet.
The bell anemonc seemed TO como IL few days
SONS nro late. 1t is distinguished FOR u rarely
beautiful leaf and tlc purplish pink Of Its outer
and making the dropped blossom suggest u thin
ly lldded, sad, dark blue eye. The petals are
centre lisa multitude OF, Stnn,ens, lace like, as
and the blossom is found beneath overnangng
shrubs, and s probably never seen IN the open
It's cousin, the rue anemonc, spreads wide its
white pstals to the sun, in open spots, Of tho
shell pink that tingos this blossom is one of the
most exquisite spring effects;
white blossom OF the spring. Its creamy petals
with the golden centre OF stamens, its rich
strong leaf, and mysterious bleeding root go to
The faint musky odor floats about the blossom
as II an eman4ton Of its very spirit, The blood
tiss spreads to the diameter OF a silver dollar.
sold fresy il the I streets re- SO Of New wy York. Il is
found III small quantities along small brooks in