PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 239 



The blood-root, whose star-like blossoms are seen on the borders of 

 woodland and in sunny places within the groves, become easily acclimated 

 when transplanted and blooms year after year when few other plants have 

 awakened from their winter's sleep. 



These native flowers have many admirable qualities. First of all, 

 they are hardy and with a little care when first transplanted become 

 easily established, after which they ask no further consideration; their 

 delicate beauty harmonizes with the landscape. If we expect the com- 

 posites of the late autumn, there are few native flowers in Iowa that flaunt 

 their colors in the face of the observer, as do the exotic geraniums and 

 salvias; they are generally free from fungus diseases, and they are in- 

 expensive. 



What a more beautiful shrub for our lawns than the waa-hoo. The 

 wild grape, the clematis and the bitter-wort are quick growing vines, 

 the clematis especially being very fragrant. Ferns ask only a shady 

 place with some moisture and they will send up their green fronds from 

 early spring until frost. 



In a paper read before the State Horticultural Society several years 

 ago, the writer recorded the result of thirty years of such acclimatizing 

 made by a lover of flowers in the city of Grinnell, and this was true conser- 

 vation, though it meant transplanting of plants from their native heaths 

 to the town gardens. Many of these came from woods in the vicinity, 

 which long since have been denuded of their trees and today are culti- 

 vated farm lands. Thus, species that for years have been extinct in their 

 original habitat have adapted themselves to a new environment and are 

 increasing their bounds. Four years ago, forty species from this collec- 

 tion were transplanted to the college botanical garden and thus will be 

 protected and become established features of the flora. 



On a collecting trip last summer along the Rainy river, the writer 

 happened upon a forest path that would test the skill of a painter to re- 

 produce. The trees extend to the very bank of the river and occasionally 

 a foot path may be seen, leading a short distance up the slopes. Following 

 one of these one day, a scene of enchantment burst before us. On either 

 side the path was bordered by tall Jewell weed, whose brilliant orange 

 and gold flowers were poised like butterflies on the slender stalks. 

 Farther back were seen the white umbels of the wild carrot, whose 

 English name, Queen Anne's lace, seemed more appropriate. Tall 

 youth-wort was still beyond; a tinkling brook could be heard as it found 

 its .way over the rocks to the river; the carpet underneath was of green 

 moss; dotted with the graceful partridge berry, pyrola, bishop's cap, 

 the low cornel and trailing twin-flower. Following the path, we came 

 to a very thicket of ferns and brakes, while around and overhead were 

 the waving branches of birches, firs, cedars and cottonwoods. All of 

 this was within a few blocks of the largest paper-pulp mill in the United 

 States and I have wondered many times whether this mecca of nature 

 lovers would yield in time to the so-called march of improvement, or 

 whether the people of the city would save this strip. In my collection, 

 made within a space of not more than four thousand square feet, were 

 not fewer than two hundred species of native flora. 



