NATIVE ANNUALS OF THE PACIFIC STATES. 55 



As early as December, after the warm autumn rains have moistened 

 the earth, the little seeds which have lain dormant during the long 

 drought of the summer months, begin to swell, and thousands of tiny 

 plants push their tender shoots up to revel in the . warmth of the 

 sunshine; some of these are soon crowned with flowers. 



In January a large number make their appearance, and during the 

 months of February, March, and April we have a royal feast of these 

 frail but charming gifts of nature, flowers of every hue and shade, 

 tessellating the plains in broad and gorgeous pattern, and embellishing 

 the green skirts of the hillsides with a rich embroidery of pink and 

 purple and blue and gold. 



The very hills cry out for joy at their own loveliness. A little 

 child, on witnessing the scene for the first time, exclaimed, "See, mama, 

 the hills have painted themselves with flowers !" 



May follows with her brilliant train, making glad the hearts of 

 those who seek the fields or woodland haunts. By June the hills begin 

 to assume a brownish tone, the grasses are drying up, and the flowere 

 are disappearing from the valleys, but a trip to the mountains will be 

 rewarded by finding many varieties, blooming with fresh vigor and 

 beauty, nourished by the waters of the melting snow of the lofty peaks. 



Among the earliest of our plants to tell us of the arrival of spring 

 is the dear little white forget-me-not. The Spanish name, nievitas, 

 signifies snow. They love moist hillsides and meadows, where they 

 perform their function as willingly and give greater pleasure than many 

 of their more showy sisters. Children seek them eagerly, calling them 

 "'popcorn flowers." 



Nemophila insignis also comes to us very early, and remains for 

 weeks, and is one of our most charming flowers. It is familiarly known 

 as "baby-blue-eyes," the name doubtless suggested by their azure color 

 and wide-awake expression as they greet the passer-by. They are found 

 growing on rocky hill-tops, and covering large spaces of the valleys, 

 appearing at a little distance like a sea of ethereal blue. There are 

 several varieties of this beautiful flower, most of which take kindly to 

 cultivation. They have been introduced into gardens of the Atlantic 

 states and in Europe. They will grow in water, and the buds keep 

 opening out for a week or two if carefully picked and kept in a warm, 

 well-ventilated place. 



Another favorite is the Plati/stemon, cream cups, with their soft, 

 delicate sweetness appealing to us to handle them tenderly. Their 

 color, as their name implies, is a creamy white. They also keep well 

 when gathered, if given plenty of water. Like the nemophila, they 

 appear in large masses, vying with other flowers and grasses for, 

 supremacy in the wide fields. But the poor little innocents ofttimes 



