36 MYSTERIES OF THE FLOWERS 



HARDHACK; STEEPLE-BUSH Spiraea tomentosa 

 July-Sept. 



The spires are composed of myriads of minute, 

 deep-pink blossoms, which bloom from the apex 

 downward, offering their pollen freely and with- 

 out restriction to pollen-collecting bees. 



FLOWERING DOGWOOD Cornus florida 

 April- June 



We are prone to speak of the white flowers of 

 the dogwood, mistaking the four con- 

 spicuous white bracts for petals, which 

 serve as nectar guides. The true 

 flowers are minute and clustered close 

 together. When magnified they ap- 

 pear like small lilies, as in the sketch, 

 each with four greenish waxy petals, 

 curling far back, and four stamens 

 standing erect and high above the 



JJUliWUUO . ., 



stigma. Its sweets are easily acces- 

 sible to bees, flies, and butterflies. 



THE SPIDERWORT Tradescantia virginiana 



A plant, fairly rare in New England, which 

 adds to the charm of its beautiful blue colour an 

 unusual form. At the top of the stem, nestling 



