MAY, JUNE, AND JULY. 



73 



Blue Flag. The larger blue flag grows in the 



Ins versicolor. g^amp of some rich meadow, or be- 

 side the sluggish stream, and shows its lovely vari- 

 egated, blue-violet flowers in June or early July. 

 The charm of the iris 

 lies in the delicate rich 

 veining of the pale pur- 

 ple-blue petal, or, cor- 

 rectly speaking, larger 

 perianth division ; for 

 the iris, or fleur-de-lis, 

 is a tube-shaped flower 

 like the morning-glory, 

 and has no petals. Un- 

 der the microscope its 

 coloring: is marvelous- 

 ly beautiful ; the bold 

 staining of the waxlike 

 lips, the soft gradation 

 of yellow and white, 

 and the rich purple 

 veining are glorious be- 

 yond description. No 

 wonder the handsome, 

 decorative flower at- 

 tracted the early atten- 

 tion of a Frenchman, 

 6 



Fleur-de-lis. 



