Popular Studies of California Wild Flowers 31 



were big- natural gardens or fields of these conns and roots), it 

 caused one of our Indian wars. 



The beautiful wild lilies are not so plentiful now, and it seems 

 better for us to enjoy the rare charm of these elegant blossoms 

 when we have the fortune of chancing upon them, rather than feast- 

 ing upon their delectable corms, even should they appeal to our 

 Anglicized palate. There are so many lovely varieties and so many 

 variations in the well-known strains that it would be an impossible 

 task to name them all. They can be likened only to orchids in 

 point of exquisite gradations of shades. But one of their chief 

 charms is their delicate, grass-like stems, usually a foot or more 

 high ; this gives the blossom its swaying grace and that appearance 

 of butterflies hovering over the grasses. Calochortus means beau- 

 tiful grass. 



These gay blossoms are favorites with insects of all kinds. 

 Bees, butterflies and other members of the insectivorous world jostle 

 each other in friendly rivalry as candidates for their sweets. 



Mariposa Lily 



Insect or blossom? Fragile, fairy thing, 

 Poised upon slender tip, and quivering 



To flight! a flower of the fields of air; 



A jeweled moth; a butterfly, with rare 

 And tender tints upon his downy wing, 



A moment resting in our happy sight; 



A flower held captive by a thread so slight 

 Its petal-wings of broidered gossamer 

 Are, light as the wind, with every wind astir, 



Wafting sweet odor, faint and exquisite. 

 O dainty nursling of the field and sky, 



What fairer thing looks up to ^heaven's blue 



And drinks the noontide sun, the dawning s dew? 

 Thou winged bloom! thou blossom-butterfly! 



INA COOLBRITH. 



