The National tribune., 1897-08-05
1'l,;; : ;Bdyttv-lHlelljj:: D:
CANTON, Pennsylvania,
AUGUST THE SECOND.

CANTON, Pennsylvania,
AUGUST THE SECOND.
We are still botanizing and star gazing. We
read and gossip. and sew little-to fill in
chinks of time-but flower hunting and being
out of doors are our main occupations There
be folks who call US idle, but really we are
very busy from morning until night The
| golden-rods and asters are coming out by ones
or twos, heralding the Autumn, and the
crickers chirr at nightfall say Summer is al
ready on the wane aud we have much to see
and learn before it goes.
One rainy day we walked out to one of our
marshy places I'VE have two marshy haunts) on
a hunt. There were plenty OF pretty grasses and
sedges, but we have not attempted to study them
yet. SO we decided upon a tall plant with Iuyuri-
ant pink bloom, which we recognized as " ike
the milk weed, only different" SO we took
stalk of it home and found that we had q treas-
ure for our rainy days work. First we skctched
| it, which was no easy or satisfactory task
then we looked 1T up and found it to se
Swamp Miikweed," differing from ordinary
milkweed in that the leaves are outstretched.
| smooth, narrow and bright in color and The
flowers of different shade. The fowerets
are complicated and almost as clever as orchids
themselves. First tho sepals and petals are
turned way back and down until they form a
| pretty pointed collar for tho cxacting little
blossom: then there is 4 short green tube sur
mounted by crown of five pink hoods, each
ending in thread-like point which cnrves
over the stigma. These hoods each contain
eli of IN fnu,p ho baac IN co,,o to ,bo
flowers aid in transporting the pollen. The
pollen is caught in pockets about the stigma
and comes out two and two little apple seed
| shaped bags of yellow, connected by fine
brown thread. Then if one will but pull eff
the top of the stigma. there VIII be found two
tiny beakcd pods, miniatures of the big pods
SO familiar to the eye.
We found onr second orchd-as reward for
venturing forth in the peting raiB. We wan-
dcred out somewhat aim!essiy, but finally
found ourselves by our other marshy place
a big pasture sopng dewn to creek, and
having all sorts and degrees of wet and dry
places. A CLEAN of scarlet in the middle Of
the field caught the Ladye's eye and over the
wall we went. The cows were munchng at a
distant corner, ANA / mufled my Collecting
case SO that the ciink should not attract their
attention, and we stole in.
4tp
There was great clump of cariet-petalled
Turks cap" lilies field lilies they call
them here. They were flashing and glowing
in the mist, and as We hurried to them, spied
right in my path, secord orclIG 1t was
HcJcnaria psgcodes-the Purple-:Iinsed Orchis
"a beautiful, tall. thickly fowercd stalk. The
flowers small-not quite 50 large rs the
Iarhsrur-have a very pretty, three parted,
fringed lip, two wings, and n itte hood above.
There is a long spur filed with nectar and
long, dark, purple seed vessel. The flower
color is pink magenta with violet color in the
shadows, and dainty appearance il makes
with ali its pretty friBges. As in all orchids
the pistis and s,amens united the stigma
and authers all being borne ca column and
curiously arranged, that tho insect who
comes 10 it for nectar Will carry away a burden
of pollen to be deposited on the stigma of the
next blossom. while he loads himself with
fresh pollen and takes his drink like a good
fellow. The leaves OF this orchid are rather
large heavy, and lily-like, and clasp the stem
closely. Between the flowers and leaves, down
the hower-staik, are many small, sheathine
bracts. We rejoice in the purplc-fringcd
orchid, and are now locking for our thi.d
In this delightful pasture. where the tall |
lilies curl their scarlet petals and swing their
long. dark staniens. and where the purple |
iEinged orchid grows, is tnc prcttiest display of |
flowers in all the country round about.
Cumps of thistles wax great and blossom in
purple and red J" /; veryain grows taller here
than anywhere else and fills the shadows with
is ecclesiastical bue-purple; fragile moth
mullen blossoms tiuttcr in pretty crowds like
butterflies; buttercups shine everywhere.
daisies tip-toe over the creeks edge to catch a
glimpse OF their own white frils; arrow-leaf
plantains blossom in the wettest uarts and
clovers in the drest; seIf-heal purpls the
ground; even Bouncing Bets grow abont for
border, though they usually prefer the road.
sides where more ia going on and Oueen An,ap.