The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-05-27

bloom, ocotillo, and many others, Civ
ing for a season the impression of a
fiower-carpeted world. In this lush
period the desert literally blossoms as
the rose, although the rose does not
ordinarily blossom in the desert.
The term wild flowers" does not
describe some of this desert flora. Oc-
casionally they are savage flowers, ca
pable of protecting themselves better
than any man-made laws could posi-
bly, protect them. In magnificent col
or, in delicacy of texture of petal, the
cactus flowers are perhaps the most
wonderful of the California desert
blossoms. But no one ever came home
from the desert with a handful of chol-
la flowers or bouquet Of prickly
pears. 'sLook and leave 'em'' is the
safest motto, for the cactus has a
fiendish defense against all corners,
and it is the part of wisdom to let
it waste it's fragrance on the desert
air.
California mothers no scenic SYM
phony more marvellous than the Yose-
mite National park, with its mighty
peaks, rugged canyons, giant trees,
waterfalls tumultously spreading
protecting veil over the rocky outlines
of naked clefts rising from the floor
of the valley sheer thousand feet or
more.
In the giant sequoia, the sugar pine,
/ the western yellow pine, the red and
white frs, and the incense-cedar, we
have in this Yosemite region one of
the most remarkable groups of conf
ferS in the world 1t serves to give
the park an interest," and charm which
gratifies the esthetfe sense and stirs
deeply the Imagination.
A View of Contrasts.
From Artists Point there is a fine
view of the valley and its contrasts in
height and depth, in verdure and flora.
Near the foot of Yosemite falls, the
largest and most spectacular in the
valley, the blueblossom, commonly
called 'blue lilac" grows in profusion,
the soft coloring blending with the
rainbow effects of the torrent, broken
in its descent to the floor of the val
ley.
The Yosemite National park, which
embraces LOO square miles of
valley Incompatible and scenic
mountains, offers a rich field for the
botanist. So great is the range of
natural conditions between foothills
and mountain glaciers that one author
ity estimates that 1900 species and
varieties of flowers, plants, and ferns
are native to this area. Though most
of these are typical of the entire Sier-
ra Nevada, many are exceedingly rare.
The fragrance of the western azalea
is enhanced by abundant bloom. The
delicate canchalagua, with its snowy
clusters of bright, thick flowers; the
taller collomia, with it's dense heads
of dainty, funnel-formed blossoms, al
most salmon in color; the golden mi
mulus, or monkey-1ower; countless
blue flowers, such as the light-bIue
pentstemon, with its whorls in tall
stems; tall blue forget-me-nots; tiny
dark-blue collinsia; the red Indian
paintbrush the brilliant scarlet pent-
stemon, with lance-shaped leaves and
funnel-formed corolla, about one inch
long; golden buttercups- go to
form the brilliant mosaic of large
sheets and pools of color on the val
ley levels.
The wide variety Of conditions,
ranging from the hot and dry slopes of
the brush-clad foothills to the bleak
SUBMITS above timberline, the abode
of glaciers and perpetual snow, gives
to the flora an exceedingly diverse and
interesting character. Innumerabls
springs, creeks, rivers, ponds, and
lakes provide suitable habitats for
moisture-loving plants. Rocky out
groupings, enormous cliffs, and gravel
ly ridges accommodate species adapt
ed to such situations.
The irregular topography yields
southward-facing slopes, which re-
ceive the full effect of the suns rays,
as we'll as northward slopes, cool,
moist and shady, where they are little
felt. The altitude ranges from $500
feet in the foothill belt to more than
1900 feet along the crest of the Sier-
ra Nevada.
1t is probable that the first white
men to look upon Yosemite valley
were members of the Joseph r. Walk
er expedition of 1888, which descend
ed the western slope Of the Sierras.
This expedition apparently did not go
down into the valley, and the effective
discovery was not made until 1851, by
members of the Mariposa battalion
while in pursuit Of hostile Indians.
The first white men who frequented
this Yosemite hinterland were miners,
sheep herders, and cattlemen. Then
came surveyors and soldiers to guard
the mountain meadows and forests.
And, lastly. the tourist, at first little
group at long intervals. but now in
throngs, to see the glories Of the
mountains. The first systematic recon
naissance Of the region was made by
the California geological survey, be-
tween 1863 and 1867.