136 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA 



as they stand in relief like islands in the grassy 

 level, or sweep across in rugged curves from one 

 forest wall to the other. 



Throughout the upper meadow region, wherever 

 water is sufficiently abundant and low in tempera 

 ture, in basins secure from flood-washing, handsome 

 bogs are formed with a deep growth of brown and 

 yellow sphagnum picturesquely ruffled with patches 

 of kalmia and ledum which ripen masses of beau 

 tiful color in the autumn. Between these cool, 

 spongy bogs and the dry, flowery meadows there 

 are many interesting varieties which are graduated 

 into one another by the varied conditions already 

 alluded to, forming a series of delightful studies. 



HANGING MEADOWS 



ANOTHER very well-marked and interesting kind, 

 of meadow, differing greatly both in origin and ap 

 pearance from the lake-meadows, is found lying 

 aslant upon moraine-covered hillsides trending in 

 the direction of greatest declivity, waving up and 

 down over rock heaps and ledges, like rich green 

 ribbons brilliantly illumined with tall flowers. 

 They occur both in the alpine and subalpine re 

 gions in considerable numbers, and never fail to 

 make telling features in the landscape. They are 

 often a mile or more in length, but never very wide 

 usually from thirty to fifty yards. When the 

 mountain or canon side on which they lie dips at 

 the required angle, and other conditions are at the 

 same time favorable, they extend from above the 



