Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-28
THE COMING OF SPRING
Blossoms Putting Forth and
Foliage Developing.
FLOW ERING SIR UBS
SUNKEN GARDENS IN VICINITY
OF STATE DEPARTMENT.
Purple-Leafed Plum - Young Ivy is
Growing-Lawns Are Dotted
With Crocuses.
FLOW ERING SIR UBS

The presence of spring is indicated In
Washington by the blossoms just putting
forth and the rapidly developing foliage on
the streets and in the parks. On every hand
there are spots of bright color that relieve
the somber aspect of many of the pubic
buildings and the dark hues of residence
streets. At any season of the year one may
find pleasure in visiting the Botanic Gar
den, but the present is peculiarly proper
time. Yet If one may not spare the time
for that let him look about while passing
along the street or through the parks. 1t
is probable that few will ever notice the
beauties of the patterns made of bright
hued petals. and the surrounding f1owery
shrubs and trees. in which event much of
the pleasure of trip about the city is sac
rificed
The Beautiful Magnolias.
Here and there against a background of
DARK bare limbs a magnolia tree stands out,
a dome of white blossoms spreading soft
fragrance about. There are many varieties
of the magnolia in the city, the most promi-
nent being the Magnolia conspicua, which
develops into large tree. A specimen of
this variety is in Franklin Square. Another
variety frequently seen is the Magnolia
obovata, or purpe-fiowered Magnolia. 1t
does not attain the size of the one first men
toned and it's trunk branches near the
ground. Its flowers are purple on the out
side and white within. The Magnolia stel-
lata is also grown largely here, and is COM
monty called the star-fowered magnolia. 1t
is shrub that is now covered thickly with
star-shaped flowers, whence it obtained It's
name.
All these early blossoming varieties are
from Japan, China and the Himalayas.
There are fourteen varieties of the mag
nolia altogether of which six are native
in the regions mentioned, while the others
belong to North America, including Mexico
The most beautiful and commonly seen
American variety is the evergreen Magnolia
grandifora, or great Powered Magnolia, also
called the great laurel magnolia. 1t is a
tree often written of by the poet and is
generally associated with the southern
states. 1t grows as far north as Philadel-
phia and New York, however, but seldom
blossoms at the latter extreme of latitude
In Washington it does not bloom until
June, usually.
Purple-Leafed Plum.
The purple-leafed plum Prunus pissardiD
Is an ornamental tree familiar in Wash
ington. Its blossom is something like that
Of the wild cherry, and many have mistaken
1t for that species. Two large trees Of this
kind now in full bloom. are on either side
Of the fountain in the north grounds Of the
White House.
A small Japanese tree that is grown but
sparsely here is the Cerasus flora plena
pendula, or weeping cherry. Two Of these
trees are in the Botanic Garden The tree
seldom grows more than five or six feet
high, and has straight trunk, covered with
smooth bark. The limbs all branch OF at
the same height from the ground, spreading
out horizontally and sending off long stems
that droop toward the ground. It is very
symmetrical and is very beautiful now, be-
ing covered with pale pink blossoms. In
the Botanic Garden there are several mag
nolias OF different varieties, and one large
tree now in bloom was planted by Senator
Blackburn. Mr.. W. r. Smith. who has
been in charge of the Botanic Garden many
years. points out several other trees in the
grounds planted by men Of prominence.
The propagating gardens. in charge of
Mr.. G. III. Brown, the landscape gardener of
are supplied with Shrubs and plants
of all kinds. are now sending out large
quantities of the flowers that bloom
In the spring to fill the beds in the parks
and around the public buildings. These
are principally hyacinths. tulips and cro-
cuses.
OF the shrubs now in blossom, the one
most in evidence is the Forsythia virridis-
sima, or golden bell native to China. This
plant is grown largely in the parks, large
and small, all over the city, and presents
bank OF solid yellow in many places.
It Is planted thickly on Highland Terrace.
In the parking between the sidewalk and
the carriageway that runs the entire
length of the block between 18th and 18th
streets on Massachusetts, avenue. One Of