STURDY SURVIVORS 



They are the stems that have sprung from a 

 plant beheaded in the spring, and are now bloom- 

 ing in late autumn. 



Abundant in the west and everywhere in 

 New England is the Chicory, a sprawling, awk- 

 ward, weedy plant, whose generally dishevelled 

 appearance is somewhat compensated by the 

 delicate beauty of its blossoms. The pale blue 

 flowers appear singly or in twos, alternate upon 

 the lengthening stems, which have at base a 

 collection of ripening heads, then flowers, then 

 buds. By the end of September the last flower 

 surmounts the stem and surveys the wreck of 

 summer's glory. 



Down the brown roads, along with Asters of 

 imperial purple and Goldenrods fit for kings' 

 sceptres, marching in ever- thinning ranks are 

 the stately spires of various Wild Lettuces, on 

 the eve of collapse. With them are a few full- 

 blooming heads of Joe-pye Weed, Boneset, Iron- 

 weed, Tansy, Wild Carrot in bloom or in fruit, 

 together with the seedling Yarrow, white and 

 beautiful amid its aged and brown relations, 



ii8 



