Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-30
NATURAL BOTANICAL GARDEN
Prodigal Luxurianoe Of Wild Flowers On the
Carberry Meadows.
A Rare Spot Nearby Warrington
Where Lovers Of Flora May
Spend Profitable Hours.
Written for The Evening Star.

Flora of the District Of Columbia" pub
hshed by the Smithsonian Institution in
1881, made special mention Of the Carberry
meadows as a locality where rare SPECIES
of plants are found in their season. Sew
eral recent visits to this same region and
careful observation of Its vegetation re-
vealed the fact that there are probably
not many other sections in this country
where an equal area wild flowers OF
such numbers and varieties abound as on
these so-called "Carberry meadows" This
narrow strip of land which is about two
miles in length, lies between the canal
and the Potomac, just west of Georgetown.
Covered as 1t is with logs of trees. boulders
of stones and pools of stagnant water, 1t
deserves hardly to be called a meadow.
though 1t furnishes rough pasturage TO
sheep and cattle. The flora here is OF such
a luxuriant growth that Notwithstanding
the destruction that Is wrought on all sices
by these animals enough Interesting plants
are constantly left to delight q botamst or
to reward a lover Of wild flowers for
days outing. The course OF Improvement
so generally visible on all sides in the ro-
mantle surroundings of the Capitol has not
reached this part yet, and the favorable
conditions to make 1t one OF the most
charming places have probably been over
looked. The Carberry meadows have local
advantages of kind not possessed by
any other section. The elevated position
of the canal along the entire length on enc
side and the river front on the other, where
the water is not yet contaminated by sew
erage from the city, also several running
brooks and clear springs, are features that
could be used to advantage i'll a jldlcious
improvement. rhe great variety of soil
and an abundance of moisture even in the
dryest weather have contributed TO make
these flats natural park Cor our own flora
Plants differing. widely in their character
are here congregased.
Approaches to the Meadows.
At present the only visible approaches TO
the Carberry meadows are, singuiarly
enough, by stairways, one at the east, the
other at the west end. and each stairway
is alongside of bridge leading over into
Virginia. If little order was made here
in all this chaos of material and the ex
uLerant growth of the plants judiciously
directed, our tiny botanical garden. with
its nursery of eXotics, so formidably pro-
tected by stone walls and iron Ratings,
would be set entirely in the shade. 1t
should also be remembered that many of
our own Virginianas and Marilandicas are
quite as haudso me some of the intro
duced plants ard deserve cultivation. To
reach the meadows from the Aqueduct
bridge at the terminus of the Washington
and Georgetown railroad. the towpath
along the canal has to be followed for
about mile. Timid people, however, may
consider it as too severe an ordeal to run
the gauntlet of a hundred canal boat mules,
usually tied to stakes in the middle of the
path. If so, they can descend to road
en- the left-hand side, passing the Great
Falls ice houses and the historic Eads'
mill. We are, how ever, assured that these
live propellers of the coal barges are quite
well behaved; that they neither kick nor
bite, and that they are rot in the least dan
ge"ous. Interesting PLANTS met with
right at thu start on either side of the
path.
Plants in Numerous Varieties.
dozen species of minis are forming a
green border to the canal. Pun pie pickerell
weeds and their companions, the delicate
white arrowheads, form second line, and
floating on the water is a network of pond
weeds, their greenish flowers peeping like
young cells out of the deep.
The steep embankment on the left has
been for weeks literally covered with the
snowy pink soapworts, which are now past
blooming. On isolated bushes of nlatri-
mony vines the delicate blossoms are grad
ually turning into jewel-like coral ber-
ries. When We reach the meadows near
an old trestle and survey the field, we find
a profusion Of sennas and centauries in
bloom, and need not regret that we have
missed the season when lizards tails. silk
weeds and St Johnswort We're here the
leaders in the floral kingdom. In many
places the vitchhaZel elder and button
bushes are completely interaced with the
trailing trumpet vines, virgins bowers
ami woodbines that they make a passage
in cur path often difficult.
other Rare Specimens.
Between. the rocks and round the pools
many unobtrusive species are found. The
false dragonhead and the black-fruited
battle-box are scarce and hard to find, but
a splendid bouquet may be made Of the car
dinal flower, and it's sister flower, the great
lobelia. Surprises always in store for
those who are persistent in their search
for botanical rarities. Groups of a thou
sand monardas and thckets of marshmal-
lows are met where least expected. A new
conner among our wild flowers, but one
that promises to be most abundant and
persistent is the Mexican ageratum, with
bright purple blossoms. We can only well
come it. as it seems to have been truly
naturaliZed, and makes itself at home
everywhere. Since the advent of the
wheel pedestrianism. even for the best of
objects. has gone out of fashion, and it's
exercise gives the rider fascination enough.
A desire to walk after our poor wild flow
ers finds charm but with few people 1t
is to be regretted that our fora has SO few
admirers, and that it is not generally
known what an endless source Of pleasure
the study of botany brings, and that ones
mind finds by it complete oblivion from
worldly cares. FRED. j. BRAENDLE.