Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press., 1927-04-21
wild Flowers Of Our Community"
The Sense of Beautiful Gods Best Gift to the Human Soul
BY MRS LON DICKEY

bnell evergreen leaves LOT CilflSI IiIldS
decorations, and this, with the depre-
dations of the motorists, is threaten
ing the existence of this beautiful
shrub, especially near the centers of
population.
Maryland has state laws enacted
in 1921 imposing fine of from S.
to $25.00 or Imprisonment or both
for the removal, injury or destruction
of trees, shrubs or wild flowers with
out the written permission of per-
sonal direction of the owner of the
land on which they grow"
In 1921 Vermont passed law es-
pecially designed to protect from ex-
termination for commercial gain some
of its rare wild flowers (more than
twenty species being specihed) and
several varieties OF ferns in which a
large trade had been built up.
Wisconsin has law prohibiting
the buying or selling of the lotus,
and the taking of several varieties of
evergreens or their foliage, without
the consent of the owner of the land.
California, several years ago, Sc
cured law protecting the toyon OF
California holly from being taken, OF
its branches broken, without written
permission from the owner of the
land; these beautiful trees We're being
rapidly destroyed for commercial pro
fits; but "two seasons of protection
are proving successful"
The California Federation has alsC
obtained from the Director of the
Yosemite National Park the assurance
that certain tracts will be left un
touched, since the moving of these
fields was killing the Mariposa lily
and the evening primrose.
Illinois has passed a bill protecting
the delicate wild flowers most in dan
ger of complete extinction, like the
fringed gentian, the trillium, The
moccasin flower, and the lotus. Thi
is most encouraging victory since i
marks the recognition, after a Ions
and persevering fight of the real value
of these vanishing flowers which uset
to be so common through all tht
woods of the middle west.
In Colorado protection has beer
secured for the lovely blue Rocky
Mountain columbine, the st t
flower.
In Utah there is state law pro
tecting the Sego lily, the state flower
endeared by early tradition.
In 1925 Florida passed law pro
tecting eight of her floral treasures
including the dogwood, holly, honey
suckles and redbud. Scarcely had the
club women of Tampa, headed b!
Mrs Tippetts, an officer of the Gen
eral Federation stopped the sale o
! holly on their streets at Christina
time, than here came wagonloads 3
it from Georgia which the law did no
cover. What is the matter with Geor
gia?
Since CALIFORNIA; efforts proved s.
successful along these lines, and cit
izens began to see the good effects o
these laws, they have passed laws Gov
ering the Snow Ulant, the Lord
Candle, redbud, white-stemmed lupin
and the golden poppy, the stat
flower
Many of the southern states ar
seeking protection for the holly, red
bud, dogwood and other decorative
shrubs, and for the magnolias whicl
are being killed by having their leave
stripped off and shipped to florist
who use them for funeral Wreaths
Many of these could be saved fo
Georgia by a law similar to that o
other states, requiring written per
mission from the owner of the land
''Love the wild flowers; but leav
them"
Spare the wild flowers; they Civ,
others the happiness they hav'
brought to you"