Laurel outlook., 1950-01-18
Oddities Of Plants
Are Related; Garden
Club Seats Officers

Officers for the year in
stalled at a meeting Jan. II of the
Laurel Garden club. The session
was at the home of Mrs. Peter
Thomson, with Mrs. B. l.. Price as
co-hostess. The officers we're in
stalled by Mrs. ]. r. Heebner, who
seated Mrs. P. A. Johnston, presi-
dent; Mrs. H. T. Winters, vice
president; Mrs. Jack Waltz, secre-
tary, and Mrs. Price, treasurer.
Mrs. Johnston received a corsage
of petunias, the club flower, that
had been grown by Mrs. R. w.
Easton. Mrs. Winters received a
living plant, denoting the growth
and iveliness of the club.
The program topic, Unusual
Facts and Oddities of Plants"
brought out many interesting
items. Insect thermometers are
said to be crickets. Count their
cEirps for seven seconds, double
the number and add as to find the
air temperature. Crickets are the
insects responding best to tenn
perature and changes. If clock
ing a black field cricket, count it's
cbirps ID seconds and add 40 for
the temperature.
Mistletoe grows lonely and aloof
and was mentioned in mythology.
The Druids w%orshiped oak trees,
but mistletoe eve grows on an
oak. 1t is said a branch of mistle-
toe led Orpheus through Hades.
1t was reported that placing an
oleander tree outdoors in summer
will cause the blossoms to have
a deep rose color. Some plants
bloom white in a house and have
streaks of pink. 1t has been sug-
gested that violet rays cause the
change in color.
The Methuselah among trees is
the gigantic Tule Cypress near
OaXaca, Mexico. 1t is one of the
most famous in the world. It's
trunk is So feet in diameter and
its age is lost in antiquity. 1t is
supposed to have been growing in
the year 5000 B. C. 1t is in the
mile-high Oaxaca valley $50 miles
southeast of Mexico City. Its
height is $50 feet. In English it
is known as the Montezuma Cy-
press, after the Aztec emperor who
was conquered by Cortez.
The giant Sequoias and Red
woods of California are ~first-cous-
ms of the Montezuma Cypress and
r. competitors in age. Based on
actual ring count the oldest Sc
quota has 1000 years. Sequoia
giantea survives at attitudes of
1000 to 5000 feet along the west
ern slopes of the Sierra Nevada
in California for a distance of $50
miles. Even in death the coast
Redwood retains its qualities, being
slow to decay. A 340-year-old Hem
lock was found growing directly
over a PROSTATE Redwood which
was still sound after three and a
half centuries on the ground.
The Cathedral" is composed OF
nine of these trees in a semi-circle,
with an altar. A hidden musical
instrument plays Joyces Kilmer's /:
poem, "Trees," which creates a
feeling of awe and respect among
those listening. The National
Garden club purchased 80 acres of {;
hedwoods, to which the Laurel :
Garden club contributed. :
Nature does some queer things, y.
but all who see a section of a +:
famous Montana tree agrees it is :
the strongest they have ever :
viewed. The tree contains an al /:
most perfect Maltese cross. 1t was :
found by two hunters in the foot :
mills of the Rocky mountains in :
Montana when they paused to rest /:
at the foot of this yellow pine. Its :
peculiar shape, like a four-leaf- :
caught their attention. Re- ::
later, they felled it and :
found the curious cross extended :
the trees entire length. Each tiny :
line, indicating a years growth, (
is easily traced around the black. :
In the center the grains form a /:
convincing replica of the ~all-seeing :
eye.
Three years ago one of the club -:
members dug up a hyacinth that !:
failed to grow and found it :
lying on its side in perfect bloom :
under the soil. Seeds of tiger lilies &:
grow differently from any other -:
plant. 1t was told that peony :
plants were known to have bloom :
I'd double in cream color two years, :
and then bloomed single in pink. y:
On trees will turn over be- .
fore a rain, especially aspens.
The club will meet Jan. 26 with :
Mrs. T. w. Evert. 8
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