Autumn 



thrown away by the guide during a storm 

 which overtook us on one of the ''car- 

 ries. ' ' 



In the wet meadows which harbor the 

 fringed gentian we find also the white or 

 cream-colored flowers of the grass of Par- 

 nassus, their five veiny petals crowning a 

 tall, slender stem, which is clasped below 

 by a little rounded leaf. There is a sug- 

 gestion of spring in a fresh cluster of 

 these blossoms, perhaps owing to a super- 

 ficial resemblance to the anemones, or it 

 may be because they have little of the 

 hardy look of other fall flowers. 



Here, too, abounds the last orchid of the 

 year, the ladies' tresses, with small white 

 flowers growing in a slender twisted spike. 

 Occasionally this plant becomes ambi- 

 tious. Leaving the low, ' ' wet places ' ' 

 to which it is assigned by the botany, it 

 climbs far up the hillsides. I never re- 

 member seeing it in greater abundance, 

 or more fragrant and perfect, than in a 



137 



