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306 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
scene, while on sheltered slopes of the bluffs more rare and fragile 
species will soon cover the mossy ledges. On their deeply-shaded 
bluffsides we find at this time the Canada Violet, which is a leafy- 
stemmed, white violet, the underside of the petals just tinged with 
purple; Decentia with finely cut leaves and slender stems of creamy 
hearts; wild Sarsaparilla spreading an umbrella-like leaf above its 
low greenish umbel; the creeping root-stock of Wild Ginger sending 
up hereand there two broad leaves,underneath which the red-brown 
flower clings closely to the ground, as if wishing to escape notice, 
Small white spikes of Mitrewort and two-leaved Solomon’s Seal 
grow upright among the moss. In less shaded spots are Bane- 
berries with close racemes of white flowers. Our two species which 
resemble each other rather closely in blossom are quite distinct in 
fruit, one having bright red berries and the other waxy white. 
Shooting-Star (Dodecatheon media) is a little wild thing of the 
Primrose family which always seems to have a startled air. To the 
same family belongs the dainty Star Flower (Trientalis Americana) 
found also at this time in the deep woods. Among bleak 
rocks gay Columbine nods in the face of the east wind. With it are 
early Meadow-Rue with many drooping leaflets and quivering 
stamens, and Bellwort with clasping lily-like leaves and pendulous 
flowers of pale yellow. Beside the little stream that twists and 
sparkles in the sun,the banks are golden with Marsh Marigold, while 
paler Buttercups (Ranunculus repens) creep over the ground by 
long runners. Where tall trees throw their shadows, downy yellow 
Violet hides its purple, striped flowers beneath its leaves, and Jack- 
in-the-Pulpit under its curving spaths stands close to the water. 
Here, too, are the two-edged leaves of Sweet Flag, its leaf-like scape 
bearing about midway the spadix of greenish flowers, also the 
sword-like leaves and variegated blossoms of larger Blue Flag. In 
some places the ground is covered with purple and white mottled 
leaves of Adder’s Tongue(Erythronium Americanum),with its flowers 
light yellow. The closely related Dog’s Tooth Violet, which has 
smaller flowers just touched with pink, is occasionally found; also 
beds of Gold Thread, known by fibrous orange roots,leaves of shin- 
' ing evergreen and one-flowered scapes. 
Out on sunny hills, azure Larkspur sends several tall stocks from 
its strong roots, each terminating in a long racem? of spurred flow- 
ers, and wild Indigo (Baptisia leucophaea) hangs its large creamy 
clusters among its low-diverging branches. In sandy soil are light 
and dark blue flowers of wild Lupine, long-tubered, straw-colored 
flowers of narrow-leaved Gromwell (Lithospermum angustifolium) 
and golden Corydalis with blue-green foliage. As the month leaves 
us, the bell-like blue flowers of Greek Valerian are in the woods, 
light purple wild Cranesbill in the meadows, orange Puccoon in 
dry soil, white panicles of northern Bedstraw along the ridges, vio- 
let Wood Sorrel in plowed land, Strawberry blossoms flushing the 
hillsides and everywhere beautiful blue Violets sprinkling the 
grass. 
June is the month of beauty, the month of the sweet wild Rose, 
which grows in fragrant jungles all up and down the hillsides, 
while many other beautiful shrubs blossoming at the same time 
