116 WILD FLOWEBS OF 



well observable at this time, and whose brilliant azure 

 flowers (curled scorpion-like before expansion) have 

 a most elegant aspect, though not so large as those 

 of the true " Forget-Me-Not," which appear at a 

 later period. "When seen together, as I have fre- 

 quently seen these plants, and in considerable plenty, 

 in a little bosky meadowy glen, close to the thickety 

 side of the Laughern Brook, at Henwick, near "Wor- 

 cester, (a loved haunt of many a blissful day in 

 boy-hood,) the effect of their azure and white con- 

 trasted flowers is exceedingly charming and lovely. 



The Wood- Anemone at its maximum of flowering, 

 now whitens almost every copse or woodland meadow ; 

 and scarcely noticeable but by close inspection, the 

 Field Hush (Luzula campestris) appears amidst the 

 rising grass pretty generally. On secluded banks or 

 hills amidst coppice wood, the light blue flowers of 

 the Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor), glistening with 

 dew-drops, present an interesting aspect to the prying 

 eye of the wanderer at this time, and indeed even a 

 warm January day will call forth some of its flowers 

 almost as early as those of the Snowdrop. The glossy 

 evergreen leaves present a singular contrast to the 

 blue flowers, and generally trail far and wide. 



In delicacy of aspect surely no vernal flower can 

 exceed the Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosellci), which 

 now appears standing with its " veined flowers," on the 

 sides of romantic ravine-like lanes, amidst stones, and 

 moss, and fern, or not unfrequently its triune leaves 

 (said to have been the original Shamrock of St. 

 Patrick) and white drooping flowers cover over the 

 declining moss-covered trunk of a decrepid tree with 

 a- wreath of Nature's own approval. Often, fatigued 



