MAY NOTES 



below with such force as to drive the blood from 

 the finger-tip. Perhaps the comparative unpopu- 

 larity of the flower is due in part to its rather 

 unpleasant odor, in part to its short stems which 

 will not permit it to be made up into bunches, 

 while, if it is picked with the leaves, not only is 

 it hidden entirely from view, but the leaves 

 fade almost immediately. Though a wood-loving 

 plant, it is rather the inhabitant of wood-borders 

 than of the deeper forest. 



Another lover of the open woods is the wild- wud- 

 geranium. This flower varies greatly in color, ' . 

 being spoken of sometimes as blue, again as 

 purple, again as pink. Its usual color seems to 

 me most accurately described as lavender. 



Toward the latter part of the month, the blue, 

 or, more properly, the purple flag tinges the 

 meadows with royal color. It seems truly " born 

 to the purple." I do not sympathize with Tho- 

 reau's feeling that it is " loose and coarse in its Purple or 

 habit," "too showy and gaudy, like some women's 

 bonnets." The blue-eyed grass is another flower 

 which is perhaps misnamed, being more purple 

 than blue. But its title is so pretty, and, save 

 for the color mentioned, so appropriate, that we 

 gladly overlook its inaccuracy. In grassy fields 

 we notice the thick, close tufts of its delicate, 

 yellow-centred blossoms. When the sun disap- 



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