MAY, JUNE, JULY. AND AUGUST. 103 



finest buttercups frequent moist meadow land, and 

 they are in their prime in June and July. R. fas- 

 cicularis is an early variet}' of the buttercuj), 

 which grows in rocky pastures and is about six 

 inches high. 



Dandelion ^^^^ common dandelion, which stars 



Taraxacum the meadoM's in May and June with 



ms- eoniK -^^ radiant circles of gold, would be 

 a garden favorite were it less common. But this 

 prodigality of gold unfortunately fails to arouse the 

 interest of older people ; only children appreciate 

 this kind of riches. They must study the heart of 

 the flower who would see the gold in its depths. A 

 big dandelion placed under the magnifying glass is 

 one of the grandest studies in golden yellow that 

 can be imagined. The richness of color which is 

 occasioned by the crowding together of such a 

 number of brilliant yellow florets (for it must be 

 remembered that the dandelion is a group of indi- 

 vidual flowers) is beyond description. Yet we pass 

 the common flower with perfect indifl:erence ; but 

 there Avas one man who did not. It was Lowell, 

 who said : 



" Dear common flower, that grow'st beside the way, 

 Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold. 

 First pledge of blithesome May, 



Which children pluck, and, full of pride, uphold. 



