230 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



something is done to preserve them; that the limited areas left for flower 

 growth and propagation, together with the increasing demand for blos- 

 soms, will in a short time result in their destruction unless the public 

 becomes -actively interested in their protection. That the necessity for 

 action in this regard exists is evidenced by the recent formation of a 

 national association called the "Wild Flower Preservation Society of 

 America," with headquarters at the New York Botanical Garden. Of the 

 nine pamphlets published by this society calling attention to as many 

 flowers that need special protection, six are native to Iowa, jack-in-the- 

 pulpit, bird's foot violet, pink moccasin flower, wild columbine, wild pink, 

 and spring beauty. From an article written in 1913 by Mr. Pellett, I no- 

 ticed that a society for the preservation of wild flowers was being organ- 

 ized in Iowa. I addressed a letter of inquiry to this society, but received 

 no acknowledgment, and, therefore, cannot furnish any information as 

 to the form of the organization, its progress or methods. The framework 

 of this organization might possibly be utilized for work throughout the 

 state, as suggested later on in this paper. 



There is probably no wild flower in Iowa that is in immediate danger 

 of complete extermination, but many flowers have quite disappeared from 

 roadside places, and from the range of drives or tramps out of our cities 

 and towns. This wanton destruction is not limited to the country, but 

 extends to public and private parks. The reasonable picking of wild 

 flowers in sparsely settled communities is not noticeably detrimental, but 

 every part of Iowa is now well settled. The great mischief is that no 

 discrimination is applied respecting the habits of the plant, and no con- 

 sideration is given to its preservation or the rights and enjoyment of fu- 

 ture generations. To such as are unable to go where some of the most 

 beautiful flowers grow, several blossoms will afford as much satisfaction 

 as an armful. Most of the flowers that are in danger of extinction are 

 unsuitable for house decoration, because they are so delicate that they 

 fade too quickly. The coarser flowers, such as the daisy, black-eyed susan. 

 meadow rue, Queen Anne's lace, aster, and goldenrod, all seem so able to 

 shift for themselves that reasonable picking would not greatly endanger 

 their existence, and they are much better adapted to decoration than the 

 delicate varieties. When we recall that picking and distributing bouquets 

 of wild daisies, at the suggestion of Jacob Riis, resulted in organizing the 

 New York settlement work, we can readily appreciate how good may re- 

 sult from the intelligent use of wild flowers through their subtle appeal to 

 the finer human sensibilities. It is the spirit of vandalism in the Amer- 

 ican people that is blameable, and that must be controlled. We frequent- 

 ly see people returning from the wood or meadows with arms and 

 baskets full of dutchman's breeches, columbines, violets, bearded tongue, 

 and ferns, only to throw them away when reaching home. Such maraud- 

 ers are not content until they have picked everything in sight. Every 

 spring the hills about our cities are dotted with children picking all the 

 pasque flowers they can carry, and for the love of picking them only. 

 Every normal person loves flowers, but only a comparatively few truly 

 and scientifically appreciate them. Much can be done to help the people 

 to more fully understand and appreciate the habits, beauty, and influence 

 of flowers by discouraging the careless and unthinking picking of them. 



