326 



HORTICULTUPE 



September 7, 1907 



night view of Old Faithful in eruption 

 with searchlight and color effect. The 

 old fashioned beds induce an old 

 fashioned sleep; the exhilarating at- 

 mosphere in early morning induces a 

 sharp appetite for old fashioned coru 

 cakes and an oM style breakfast with 

 modern trimmings and service. An 

 early start is made for the lake (19 

 miles), and one of the most pleasant 

 rides in the Park. Keppler's Cascades, 

 a short distance out. are generally 

 viewed by everybody. Along this route 

 the beard tongue (Pentstemon) is 

 plentiful. Madison Lake, ten miles up 

 the valley is said to be further by water 

 route from the sea than any other 

 lake on the globe. Before reaching the 

 lake the Continental Divide is crossed 

 —altitude S425 feet. On this height is 

 the lily-covered pond filled with the 

 yellow water lily (Nymphae a poly- 

 sepala). 



Descending the Divide the coaches 

 pass down Corkscrew Hill, and when 

 arriving at Shoshone Point an en- 

 chanting view of Shoshone Lake miles 

 away presents a most restful scene 

 over the towering pines in the fore- 

 ground. Lake View, one mile from the 

 Lake is said to be one of the most 

 striking water landscapes in the world. 

 After passing through a dark pine 

 forest the coaches suddenly arrive at 

 Thumb Station at the edge of Yellow- 

 stone Lake, a body of clear cold spark- 

 ling water 7741 feet altitude, or nearly 

 one and a half miles above the sea. 

 After lunch at Thumb it is optional 

 to continue with the coaches over the 

 mountain road (16 miles), and cross 

 Natural Bridge, or cross the lake by 

 boat: either tide is extremely delighi- 

 ful, the coaches are constantly in full 

 view of the lake. About 5 P. M. brings 

 the tourist to Lake Hotel. This place 

 with its surroundings, overlooking the 

 tranquil lake bespeaks rest from the 

 roaring and hissing geysers and hot 

 springs — the only roar would be from 

 Bruin and his associates in the woodo 

 back of Lake Hotel. A glimpse from 

 the roof of the hotel oft to tlie left of 

 the lake reveals a scene without com- 

 pare and no encomium that it would 

 be possible to pronounce would over- 

 rate its merits; the towering peaks 

 gilded by the setting sun clothed them 

 with a halo of the softest tint which 

 leaves an impression never to be for- 

 gotten. 



A ramble through the woods and 

 along the river and edge of the lake 

 reveals a garden of natural flora. The 

 seed fl\iff of the Clematis ligusticifolia, 

 is abundant, forget-me-not. (Myoso- 

 tis sylvatica) is also found here and 

 along the river through Hayden Val- 

 ley. The everlasting Mower (Anten- 

 naria dioceo rosea). Aside from be- 

 coming well acquainted with the bears, 

 a delightful pastime is fishing in the 

 lake and river for trout; it is always a 

 sure catch, one can without fear of 

 contradiction describe their size to 

 those who have been through the 

 Park. The night is spent at Lake 

 Hotel, a peaceful and restful on© it is, 

 away from the roar of the geyser 

 which knows no cessation. An early 

 start is made in the morning for the 

 crowning feature of the Park's won- 

 ders, viz., The Grand Canon. After 

 covering 7 miles and before entering 

 Hayden Valley, the wonderful Mad 

 Volcano is visited. It lies west of the 

 road a short distance; its action is 



uncanny but interesting; it is a hugs 

 cavern filled with mud which is thrown 

 from one side to the other by steam 

 force which issues from many open- 

 ings in the sides of the crater. This 

 action is constant, weird and noisy, 

 ;tnd emits an odor far different to that 

 of heliotrope or lemon verbena. 



While passing along the river bank 

 many clusters of the buttercup (Ran- 

 unculus Montanensis), were notice- 

 able, but nut in bloom, their time 

 being June and July. 



Trout Creek (9 miles), presents an 

 interesting featare, having cut its way 

 tlirough and around the plateau, form- 

 ing the Northern Pacific Railroad 

 trade-mark. Two miles further on 

 and a half mile from the main road is 

 Sulphur Mountain, which is especially 

 interestin.g in the morning when the 

 numberless little steam jets issue from 

 its top and sides. A notable feature 

 is that the trees do not object to this 

 .'-ulphur bed, they grow freely amid 

 this sulphur deposit. 



Hayden Valley is one of the most 

 picturesque scenes, the river winds 

 beautifully on and nariows as it 

 reaches the cascades. This valley is 

 an important winter range for the Park 

 buffalo and elk. and covers an area 

 cf fifty square miles. A dense fern 

 growth follows along until the cas- 

 cades are reached. 



Upper Falls 112 feet high is beauti- 

 ful and turbulent. The scenery here is 

 verj rugged. 



In a moment the coaches arrive at a 

 bend in the road which reveals the 

 whole vista of the Grand Canon of the 

 Yellowstone. A sharp rise in the road 

 with a heavy tug brings the tourisi 

 to the Grand Canon Hotel, which is 

 1000 feet above the Upper Falls. The 

 only time spent at the hotel is the 

 lunch hour, the balance of the day is 

 given entirely to the Canon which can 

 be viewed from either side of the river. 

 The Grand Canon of the Yellowstone is 

 acknowledged by all beholders to 

 stand without parallel among the 

 natural wonders of the globe. Other 

 canons have greater depths and more 

 imposing walls, but there are none 

 which, in the words of Captain Lud- 

 low, "unite more potently the two 

 requisites of majesty and beauty." P" 

 is 2000 feet wide, 1200 feet deep and 

 twenty miles long. It is pre-eminently 

 a canon of color. Its principal feat- 

 ure and a most inspiring one is the 

 lower or Great Falls, 310 feet high, 

 l)ouring over its brink the waters of 

 the Yellowstone River witii a thunder- 

 ing foice. The west side is a pano- 

 rama of the brightest colors that pig- 

 ments could suggest, while the east 

 side is heavily set with pine and 

 spruce contrasting beautifully through 

 its entire length. Forget-me-nots 

 (Myosotis sylvatica), are found on the 

 very crest of the east side and half 

 way down its bank. 



Along the road and leading up to the 

 side of Mt. Washington the buttercup 

 grows in profusion, also many clusters 

 of the blue gentian. The columbine 

 (Aquilegia) is here in its favorite 

 habitat. Quite a chapter can be writ- 

 ten about Mt. Washburn, and its com- 

 manding prominence. It is the most 

 cnlebrated peak in the Park from 

 which a panorama which defies descrip- 

 tion lies before you. As the tour was 

 over the old route leading from Canon 

 back to Norris, thence to Mammotn 



Hot Springs and Gardiner, the pleas- 

 ure and many new features are in 

 store for these who will fr.jra now on. 

 tour the Park, as the new route will 

 be via Yancey and Mammoth Hot 

 Springs. This will afford e. trip along 

 nearly the e^itire length of the ('anon, 

 and over parts with new and distinct 

 features different from those described 

 above. We will, therefore, follow the 

 old route from Canon to Norris, pass- 

 ing the Solfatara Plateau and the Vir- 

 ginia Cascade. The mountains and 

 valleys along this stretch are veiy in- 

 teresting both in scenery and heavy 

 growth. After covering about 12 

 miles, Noiris is reached, lunch is 

 taken another visit made to springs 

 and geysers, a;id then toward Mam- 

 moth Hot Springs and Gardiner. 



In concluding with the Park flora 

 a few species which have not been 

 mentioned should have a place. The 

 fire weed or willow herb (Epilo- 

 binm), the globe flower (Trollius 

 albiflorus), shooting star or American 

 cowslip (Itodeeatheon in four varie- 

 ties), bladder pod (Physaria), Jacob's 

 Ladder (Polemoniura) in four varie- 

 ties, golden rod (Solidago), in five 

 varieties. 



It is interesting to know that the 

 cultivated varieties such as sweet peas,, 

 which bloom through the whole season, 

 pansies in large flowers, marigold, as- 

 ters, and many of the leading annuals, 

 find congenial conditions for thorough 

 development. 



Fifteen hours by ths Northern Pacific 

 brings the tourist into the State of 

 A\ashington among the stately firs 

 and heavy undergiowth of beautiful 

 wild flora. ITie vast difference in 

 climatic conditions between the east 

 and west of the States of Washington 

 and Oregon are such as to give each 

 State a northern and southern flower 

 bloomin.g period. The flowers of the 

 Puget Sound region grow in great 

 profusion and beauty. 



We sh.'^ll not take up the wild flora, 

 but touch only in part on the results 

 achieved with cultivated varieties 

 which are generally known. Roses 

 bloom out of doors from early in April 

 to late in No\'ember, and nowhere, not 

 even in California, are they excelled iu 

 size, beauty and fragrance. The mild 

 winters and moist climate of the Ojast 

 region make ideal conditions for propa- 

 gation of shrubs and bulbs. Narcissus, 

 tulips , hyacinths, lilies, dahlias and 

 others multiply rapidly, during the sum- 

 mer, so that full sized young bulbs 

 are harvested by fall. Lilies in par- 

 ticular seem to enjoy the soil and 

 weather conditions, and after once 

 planted they become established and 

 continiie year after year bearing and 

 multiplying. Sweet peas are used as 

 veranda vines; they bloom through the 

 summer until frost in November, and 

 cover trellises twelve feet high. In 

 Seattle in the residential sections, 

 every home, with rare exceptions had 

 abundance of sweet peas and Noisette 

 roses are trained over large screens 

 and on walls; the Hybrid Teas seem 

 especially adapted to the soil and 

 weather of Seattle, Tacoma and Port- 

 land. 



Hybrid clematis grows as freely as 

 the honeysuckle, and blooms through 

 I he summer and fall. The Mountain 

 -Ash is a prominent specimen in all 

 liarks and along the avenues covered 

 with its red clusters. 



