Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

the woods beyond the Eastern branch nu-
merous fine specimens of the skunk cao-
bage. and these specimens were far ad-
vanced. Skunk cabbage seems to be the
earliest plant form of spring to attract
attention It comes when the days length
en- whether the sun is warm or whether
cold winds blow. 1t seems to have little
fear of ice and snow. 1t is possible,
though it is strange, that there may be
city people who would not know skunk
cabbage even though they should STUN
BILE on it, or even smell it. It's colors are
a rich dark maroon. deep yellow, green
ish yellow or mottied hue Within its
hood-like spathe, or enyeloping bract. it
appears to be solid. but open it and its in
terror is white and crystalline.
An authority on skunk cabbage has
written that "In some of the cells there
appear under a lens actual crystals. very
pretty objects to the microscopic. The
minute flowers have four hooded sepals,
opposite to which stand four stamens with
slender stalks, opening lengthwise and
outward. These flowers cover globular
spadix which later bears the hard bullet,
like seeds. which, always may be found
by hunting around the parent plant. From
very thick root stock arises a cluster
of large. broadly ovate and veiny leaves.
which appear later than the spathes,
which hardly come above the ground. .
The skunk part of the name is due to
the mephitic odor. in which also there is
a suggestion of onions.
In sheltered places one has long been
able to find chickweed., whl111QaSperts CAN
stellaria,t and of which miIady cAnary
is so fond. In fact, some chick~eed
might have been found near Wasia;pg-
ton all winter. but the genial sunny DAYS
Of early March brought this fragile plant
OF tender green into great prominence
along the roadside bitches and on the
south side. of fences and hedges. In some
places the little white flowers of this
hardy and inconspicuous plant were open
on inauguration day.
The dandelion has shown green leaves
all winter and it put forth its golden
blossoms very early. though not -unprece-
dentedly so. for many roadside acauaint-
ances have told the Rambler that they
have known this flower to bloom all win
ter in the latitude of WASHINGTON. If
one has good eyes for such. things, Jack
in-the-Pulpit. golden club and sweet flag
could be seen in the sunny places in the
environs of Washington during inaugura-
ton week.
One of the early forms in inorescense
are the tassels. or the taPs o. the bifrtles.
alders. poplars. .aspens and sweet fern.
and these were to be met with during the
first week in March. There IL always d
fascination in these heralds of spring.
The feathefy green catkins of the Balm
o-Gilead poplar and the gray and purple
catkins of the great toothed aspens-so
called from the dentate leayes-were out
on the let Of March and were frequently
seen in the florists windows, having been
forced, during February
- -s..s-.ea.. q
II all goes we'll with the weather, when
this ramble comes Into print there will
be hepatica or liyerwort and anemones
and Dutchman's breaches, and cowslips
or marsh marigolds to talk about. Per-
haps also dainty trailing arbutus will
have been dug up by the roots from
under the dead leaves of winter or from
under its warm covering of dry pine
needles, and will be offered for sale on
the street corners OF the city.
The familiar bridal-wreath, spirea,
and an old-fashioned white flower or
grandma's garden may be blooming nat
uralIy. but forced specimens of this have
been seen in the windows of the flower
shops for two months The day after
inauguration the Rambler found in
southside garden near Fort Foote, Mary
land, a bush of japanese ounce. radiant
with red blossom. There, 1t was called
apple japonica.'' but it was the same
plant that has been made so familiar in
the public grounds of Washington. IN
the same place rose bushes were putting
out fresh and tender foliage of green
and bronze.
An immense volume of poetry has been
produced under the inspiration OF April
and May. but not SO much sweet and
graceful language has been bestowed on
March, though Shakespeare called March
the roaring moon OF daffodils" and
another poet. whose name the Rambler
does not know and Is not going to take