The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-03
Preserve the Wild Flowers.
tor of Tho TImes-Dispatcl.

-
Louls's proposed expenditure of sa5.
! 100000 IN development of parks within
and without tho city. You wisely stig.
Ecst that Richmond needs large
woodland park OF several hlindrct
acres, and TINT now is the time to nc
| auirc tho land at comparatively snln Il
cost. You givo several rrasons; there
arc many Others whlcl, are not under
| valued because urmcntoned, but there
| is one ! should like to especially cm-
| plastic.
The children of Richmond in the pub
| lie and private schools Gre trying to
| study nature. and find 1T very trying
| with no nature to study. The large
| majority of our native wild flowers
| city children have never seen, especial
| ~ the delicate early woodland flowers
| In New York wild flowers are cS-
| pressed to tho city and exhibitions are
! given In the public sch ools. This Is
| better than nothing, but cannot thrill
like seeing them in the wild setting
of their native haunts.
As the woods around tho city are cut
dowii--nnd 1t Is being done faster than
we reallze--the shy woodland flowers,
/ losing the shelter of shade. ana
moisture OF woods mold, perish.
Stronger. coarser flowers like daisies,
goldenrod, cocklebur and Jamestown
weed swarm In and take possession.
Without protection the wild flowers
can no more survive before the on
slaught of commerce than could the
wild Indian. We owe 1t to the present
and future generations whom we have
robbed OF their birthrisht somehow.
somewhere, to preserve for them the
native flowers of their native land.
Part. at least. OF such a park as you
propose could become such a rescrva-
tion. 1t would enhance the charm OF
the park
Richmond is so densely populated
much less the flowers. A large, roomy
park would be to tho mutual advantage
of both. I presume the wild flower
history of all cities is about tho same.
happen to know most about Peters,
burg.
Petersburg is spread over a good
deal OF ground for her population
Easily accessible on all sides were
wooded hills and ravlnes. pen meadows
and marsh. Astounding In as wide
variety of wild flowers as II was ever
my fortune to find. The yellow jessa
mine. Atamasco lily and flowers from
the Sunny South crept up and met the
frail spring beauty, anemone and other
flowers from the frozen North, and
grew side by side as companions Here
tho blending varieties called for a ma
tional flower preservation. Tho call
was stifled by local nnnihilation
Wild flowers grow in the same spot.
sometimes very small, year after year.
For six or eight successive years /
found the first dogtooth v,olet blossom
In a spot no larger than my hand. Year
after year a crimson catchfly famed
a the foot of great pine. Season af-
ter season three varieties of pitcher
plant grew vi spot not six feet
square Other plants Of these varieties
grew near them. but each kind con-
fined to very limited range. Destroy
these spots and you have helped to
exterminate the varieties.
Eight minntes' ride from Petersburg.
easily seen from the car window. was
a small hal-acre moss bog carpeted
in blue and pink by long stemmed
violets and adder's mouth orchids. The
owner by making 1t q hog lot. con-
yerted 1t into black mud. Reached now
in one minute by car Is spot where
a small patch OF ground In spring
was pink all day long. as the delicate
spring beauties opened wide their
petals to catch the genial sunlight. To-
day they lie buried ten feet deep be-
meath the red clay embankment OF the
electric road. In n sheltered nook. In
woods mold covering granite rock. |
not larger than a good sized parlor, the |
little blue hepatica opened on the first |
warm days of winter or spring. They
blasted that particular piece of granite |
10 get foundation materials for the |
electric power house. Within five min
utes walk from the city was a small |
grove. In It's moist shade. white May |
apple blossoms hung beneath their |
quaint umbrella like leaves. the sur |
prise and delight of the children. Tho |
Hiay-apples died when the grove he |
came cordwood. Just beyond the limits |
of the city, along the side OF steep |
ravlne, apparently unfit for pasture or |
grew several varieties of /
Solomon's seal, among them the foamy. |
white false, and many curious jack |
in-the- pulpits. They seemed safe. But a |
railroad needed switci, at that point /
and filled the ravlne to make it.
Places that twelve years ago would |
furnish bushels of trailing arbutus, to-
day would not furnish a buttonhole |
bouquet.
Then there were nearby open woods
where yellow iessamlne climbed the
small pine trunks and covered the tree
tops with mass of yellow bloom or
ran riot over the cedar bushes, binding |
them together with their vines, con-
them into seats upon which the
children would climb and sit while
4 bove, below ana around them the
OIL yellow JcSsaNllnc made ira
grant halo OF yellow glory, fit throne
'or the innocent revels OF a child. Now
;hese spots are posted clearings. sur
by barbed- wire fences. On all
sides, little by little the open Wild
lower resorts have become posted
'enCed and cleared
Shut out from nearby spots we took
he cars and went farther afeld. but
ess frequently. Ona old field was a
'loral paradise. The first time saw
t thousands and thousands of White
orchids covered its meadow land From
earliest spring to latest fall there was
an over-changing succession of flowers
some dainty. some gorgeous. some rare
Through the season eleven varieties
II orchids grew there, three varieties
IF pitcher plant, nt,mberless graceful
Turks cup lilies. Ks seasons changed.
he carpet varied blue. pink. white,
elbow, rod, orange. purple, as vio,ets,
ris, orchids, lilies, androma, spice
'ush, pepper-b bush, fringe bush, daisies,
'uttercups or some other flower hap
'ened to hold sway. The Country
Club bought part Of tho tract. One
night hope from the name that country
eatures would DO preserved. Vain de-
usion. The upland was cleared and at
arge expcnse the iowlands was partly