SOME FANTASTIC FLOWERS 



49 



his mouth is down at the honey plates, his legs wave 

 above and hit the stigma. You always find bees 

 around Milkweed. You can see two in this illus- 

 tration. So often have I 

 found them asleep in the 

 Milkwedd flowers in the 

 early morning before the 

 sun has warmed the air 

 that I wonder if there 

 be a narcotic in the nec- 

 tar. Perhaps not. May- 

 be the feast is so deli- 

 cious that the bees sim- 

 ply forget to go home. 

 I have picked the stalks 

 with the sleeping crea- 

 tures on many times and 

 carried them into the 

 house. When the warmer air roused them from 

 their naps, there was a great commotion. Bang! 

 they buzzed against one window. Bang! against 

 another. Scold and grumble until they find the 

 open door and return to freedom. 



Observe the leaves and the bud coverings of the 

 Milkweed. Why are they so wooly? Do you find 

 any holes bored in the leaves? Do you think the 

 insects like the juice? Milkweed, like Hound's 

 Tongue, has made ample preparation for the dis- 



MILKWEED 



