THE PRACTICAL FLOWER GARDEN 



meadows have been drained by a wide, shal- 

 low ditch, as well as by a stream which flows 

 gently through them. Upon the rising edges 

 of the meadow along the woodland are masses 

 of tall asters, heleniums and elderberry; and 

 in the meadow bloom marigold, many iris, 

 patches of the rare fringed blue gentian, tur- 

 tle head, pink, white and crimson mallow, 

 iron weed, vervain, thorough wort, and all the 

 lovely growths natural to damp places, with 

 their successively changing colors, of white, 

 red, yellow, orange and russet. As month 

 follows month, each species of plant rises 

 higher and higher, each successive growth hid- 

 ing the earlier one, until at last, in autumn, 

 the great plumes of goldenrod, the many- 

 hued starworts and the towering heleniums 

 and helianthus reign supreme. 



Looking down upon the meadows are 

 rounded knolls covered with sparse grass, 

 which is thickly interspersed with flowers, 

 such as St. John's-wort, everlasting, mulleins, 

 beautiful thistles and black-eyed susans. 



182 



