NATIVE PERENNIALS. 59 



her own ! In olden times these flowers were supposed to wake the robin. 

 In the east they are called "wake robin." 



Following the trilliums we have the Cynoglossum grande, or hound's 

 tongue. It comes to us early in January. With its beautiful cluster 

 of blue flowers resembling forget-me-nots,, it is quite a noticeable plant, 

 and deserves a place in our gardens. 



We have two perennials Eschscholtzias, beautiful poppies which 

 linger with us all the year. No wonder we Californians are fond of 

 our state flower. Though at its best and brightest from January until 

 May, there is not a month in the year that it does not bloom. 



All along the seacoast in sandy soil, throughout the year, we find 

 Eschscholtzia Californica, with its light golden cups spotted with orange 

 at the base. 



Eschscholtzia crocea, with its large golden-orange bloom, is most 

 common; we find it everywhere. 



The Columbine Aquilegia truncata is another early-blooming per- 

 ennial. We are- all familiar with this lovely flower, with its dainty 

 foliage and graceful blossoms of red and gold. It is one of our most 

 attractive plants. It was once called Herba leonis, from a belief that 

 it was the lion's favorite flower. It blooms early in January. 



Dicentra Formosa (bleeding-heart) is another of our perennials; 

 it comes to us often in January. It loves shady canyons, where it 

 thrives under the shrubs. I once found a colony of double flowers 

 which was very interesting. 



Our native violets are all perennials, all beautiful early-flowering, 

 but the one we seem to love best is the Viola pedunculata, Johnny- 

 jump-up, as the children call them. There is something so very 

 attractive about these flowers that one seems drawn towards them. A 

 verse from James Whitcomb Kiley will describe our feelings: 



"Pansies! pansies! how I love you, pansies; 

 Jaunty faced, laughing lipped, and dewy eyed with glee ! 

 Would my song might blossom out in little five-leaved stanzas, 

 As delicate in fancies 

 As your beauty is to me." 



The strawberry (Fragaria Californica) and Chilensis are both peren- 

 nials. Our sand hills towards the ocean are covered with this delicious 

 fruit-bearing plant. The lovely white blossoms and glossy, dark leaves 

 make it very noticeable. Another of the perennials belonging to the 

 same family as the strawberry is quite well known to most of us. 



Potentilla Anserina, or silver weed, we find growing along stream 

 banks and moist places. Its flowers are yellow, the leaves dark green, 

 and the under side a silver gray. 



