194 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE. 



all does not typify a keen, hard put 

 struggle for existence. Blossom time 

 comes to the desert and then wealth of 

 bloom rivals the most beautiful culti- 



YUCCA IN BLOOM. 



vated gardens in magnificence and va- 

 riety. 



One can hardly imagine a plant more 

 beautiful than the stately Yucca alifolia 

 when it puts forth its long blossom 



stalk, varying in height from ten to 

 thirty feet, and hangs aloft myriads of 

 pendulous, waxen lily bells beautiful be- 

 yond description. The poetic Spanish 

 Californians were keenly alive to their 

 exquisite beauty. Their brown robed 

 friars saw them afar off and likened 

 them to a host of warriors marshalled 

 on the plain, or to great white candles 

 set in magnificent array upon a golden, 

 sun-burnished altar. The traces of their 

 fancies still linger in the local names of 

 "Spanish bayonet" and "Our Lord's 

 candlestick." 



Another striking plant is the occotilla. 

 Botanists know it as Fouquiera splen- 

 dent, but it has a host of local aopella- 

 tions, such as "vine cactus," "candle 

 wood, "lacob's staff" and "devil's fish 

 pole." In the main these local terms 

 are easy to account for. In the first its 

 brilliant cacti-like blossoms and thorny 

 stems resemble that family very closely. 

 The name "candle bush" or "candle 

 wood" is applied because its stems, liter- 

 ally soaked in resin, will burn for hours 

 like a flaming torch. A staff it has 

 proven to many a weary traveller, and 

 you can scarcely imagine a twig more 

 fittingly designed to be a "devil's fish 

 in )le." But after all the crowning glory 

 of this thorn of thorns are the splendid 

 snikes of graceful, fiery, fuchsia-like 

 blossoms. On the rough brown hills 

 they gleam afar like thousands of flam- 

 ing torches. 



Every shrub and bush has its brief per- 

 iod of luxuriant bloom. Softest pastel 

 shades suffuse their delicate tints in the 

 most barren canons and in very truth 

 the "desert blossoms as a rose." ( )f 

 these numerous small trees and bushes 

 none is more beautiful than the "palo 

 verde," with its lace-like film of leaves 

 and golden shower of blossoms. 



The cacti by many are considered the 

 glory of the desert. The blossoms dis- 

 play nearly every color, tint and shade 

 known to the plant world, but the vivid 

 scarlets, deep crimsons, glowing purples 

 and warm yellows are H-" 3 «<!iiaJ shades 

 displayed. Satiny pinks, soft lilacs and 

 creamy whites are by no means uncom- 

 mon among these gforgeous flowers 

 which vie in coloring with the richest 

 colored orchids. How wonderfully 



