CHAPTER XI 



THE SLEEP OF -THE PLANTS 



November 



" They know the time to go ! 

 The fairy clocks strike their inaudible hour, 

 In field and woodland, and each punctual flower 

 Bows at the signal an obedient head 

 And hastes to bed." 



Even the youngest and least educated observers 

 of flowers understand that they have fixed seasons 

 of bloom and decay, of folding and opening. The 

 child soon learns to look for chick-weed, dandelions, 

 and butter-cups early in the spring, to expect roses 

 and lilies in June, hollyhocks, asters, and petunias 

 later; to associate dahlias, chrysanthemums, and 

 golden-rod with autumn. 



Bands of school children seek in April the pastures 

 and woodlands for wdld hyacinths, violets, anemones, 

 blood-root, and spring beauty. The least astute 

 gardener prepares his crocus, hyacinth, tulip, and 

 pansy beds for earliest bloom. The flowering almond, 

 peonies, iris, columbine, garden valerian, come 

 promptly in the train of May ; the yellow rose is the 

 first of the June band to unfold its petals. 



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