RAMBLE AMONG WILD FLOWERS. 



A SEASON'S RAMBLE AMONG WILD FLOWERS. 



BY T. S. GOLD, CONNECTICUT. 



The dissolving snows of winter remind us of the pleasures of spring, and as the frosts 

 relax their hold upon the soil, the ever teeming earth is ready to put forth a thousand 

 forms of life and beauty. My object at the present time, is to refresh our minds that are 

 familiar with these beauties, not by a full description of them, but by adverting to some 

 of their striking characters; also to awaken the attention of those who have hitherto 

 walked the fields unmindful of a greater display of glory around them, than that with 

 which Solomon was arrayed. 



To the true lover of flowers and of nature, (and I cannot separate the two,) a wide field 

 of enjoyment is presented, into which many never enter. I can feel no sympathy with 

 him who ruthlessly destroys, or carelessly treads upon these gems which God has strewn 

 so bountifully about our paths, evidently with a design to cherish our finer feelings, and 

 soften our hearts. As they were created for our happiness and improvement, we should 

 gather them, (but not rudely,) study the marks of design and goodness thej^ exhibit, and 

 present them to our friends as tokens of that peace and purity which alone pertains to the 

 productions of the Divine hand. 



The list Avhich I propose to give of these gems of nature, will be by no means complete, 

 but contain many found in this locality, Litchfield county, Ct. They are nearly all peren- 

 nials, and most of them might be established with a little care, in some undisturbed posi- 

 tion near the dwelling. How much would it add to the charms of a country residence to 

 form upon that rocky knoll hard by, a collection of wild plants suited to it, or beneath 

 the shades of some neighboring copse, or upon the borders of that little rivulet, to assem- 

 ble from distant wood and glen their floral treasures, allowing each to retain their pecu- 

 liar habits, of which many are very tenacious. Once established, very little care would be 

 necessary to preserve them, and thus, through the season, a succession might be maintain- 

 ed of these modest, fairy-like gifts, almost in their native haunts, and another rose be ad- 

 ded to the wreath of rural pleasures. 



For every flower which I shall name, I have a strong affection; its native locality, Avhere 

 I have often found it, is fresh in my mind, and at the sight of it my heart thrills with de- 

 light, as when I meet an old and long tried friend. 



And now, friends, let us take a long ramble in the fields and woods, beginning as soon 

 as the blue-bird commences its happy carol, and continuing it till the chilly blasts of 

 autumn warn us to seek ngain our warm firesides, thereto meditate upon the many bright 

 images with which we have stored our minds. 



First, let us visit that bleak northern hill-side, for there the 



EpigcEa repens, (Trailing Arbutus,) as I saw before the snows were gone, had prepared 

 its buds to open with the first genial breath of spring. Here it is, an evergreen vine, or 

 trailing shrub, half covered with the dry leaves; but its little pink clusters are open, ex- 

 haling a fragrance equaling that of more favored flowers. 



Let us pass that skirt of woodland, and under its sunny side, peeping from beneath 

 the dry leaves, we will find the 



Hspatica acutiloba and americana, (Liverleaf.) — These species resemble each other in 

 potted lobed leaves, and in their numerous delicate blue and white flowers, and 

 us a welcome salutation to enjoy the beauties of spring. 



