Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-02-12
WILD FLOWERS OF ALASKA.
As Many as 1870 Varieties Have Been
Found In the District of Nome.

As Many as 1870 Varieties Have Been
Found In the District Of Nome.
Mrs. Volney T. Hoggatt, native Of
Kentucky, is with her husband, Judge
V. T. Hoggatt, at the Riggs. Mrs Hog.
gait Is now an enthusiastic Alaskan, \
and talking of the country and the 1870 !
varieties Of beautiful wild flowers,
said:
people who have never visited the
territory Of Alaska and are not famil.
lar with its resources and conditions
generally, naturally, are a little in.
credulous when we speak of the soil,
the botanical experiments and condi.
lions that exist and have existed per.
haps centuries before this great EN-.
pire came under our government
From time immemorable, since the
first sowing of the seed in this north
land by the hand of the All-Divine
Planter, the wild flower has borne life
| from its soil and lifted its graceful
head and beautiful face upturned to
the sun and blue sky with as much
vigor and substance as any dollhouse
plant or outdoor flower In California.
AS many as 100 varieties of wild flow.
ers have been found in the district of
Nome, between the 66th and Gath de.
! grees north latitude, along the coast
of Bering sea. l have spent hours and
days among the hills and lowlands
gathering the little waxen petal flow
ers-of every tint and color-so beau
/ tiful and dainty In texture and color
that they seemed as you studied them
that the sweet breath of heaven had
but merely touched them and left the
bushes of love messages upon their
petals. found myself acquiring
somewhat of a persistent fad, in
searching for these feather-tinted
flowers, that | might find one to out
rival the other in color. have walk
ed miles upon the driftwood, along the
overflow of Snake river Ia name very
appropriate to this river from its tor
tuous windings), in search Of the cow
slip Of the deep yellow hue, with long
rubbery stems; also small white lily
with shell like tinted center, with
these same long rubbery stems, which
grew along the waters edge. They
seemed conscious that was in search
for them, for they we're in hiding here
and there under the drlftwood.
1.-THE foot hills and lowlands that
slope down to the sea, through the
months Of June, July and August, are
Variable gardens of wild flowers,
moses, ferns, etc. The reindeer moss
Is the moss upon which the reindeer
subslsts; 1t takes the place Of grass
and grows everywhere In abundance.
1t Is of silvery gray and various
shades Of green; turns gray after
frost, but remains nutritious. This
I moss forms beds everywhere for the
wild flowers and ferns. AS you wander
through the lowlands following the
small streams toward the majestic
Sawtooth range, with its snow-white
caps, forming a background to the soft
old green of the foot hills below, COW
cred with wild flowers, you see pic
ture Of grandeur and beauty.
Among these foot hills flowers are h
to be found in extraordinary growth 1
and strength the white and blue
violet, sweet williams, bluebells, lilies
Of the valley, buttercups, marguerites
as large and beautiful as the Guilt
waited ones. The tall forget-me-not in \,
tne rich, delicate blue, and the white,
can be found by the acre, spreading
its fragrance. These, to my mind, are,
the most bewilderlngly beautiful Of
all.
There are a number Of varieties Of
ferns also-the species of the maiden
hair fern, the broad leaf, the old woods
fern, etc. Then, too, there is the little
delicate flower that pops its head up
in the spring as soon as the birds be.
gin their song-only not so early In
Alaska as in more moderate climates
where they have early springs-but 1t
barely waits until the snow disap-
pears. You will find one here and
there, wherever the full sun rays
touch the earth you will find one Of
these frail blossoms. The indoor
plants and cultivated plants thrive
well; they can be seen in many OF the
homes of those who were thoughtful
enough to take with them into this
country few sprouts or seed; the
experiment Of cultivation of flowers
has proven successful and interest
ing Star.