MIDSUMMER 



However much we may revel in rich color, it is 

 restful, after a time, to turn from these blazing Tall 

 children of the sun to the green water-courses rm ow ~ 

 which are marked by the white, pyramidal clus- 

 ters and graceful foliage of the tall meadow-rue. 

 On certain of these plants the flowers are exquis- 

 itely delicate and feathery, while on others they 

 are comparatively coarse and dull. A closer in- 

 spection reveals that the former are the male, the 

 latter the female flowers. 



This distinction between the sexes, however, is 

 less marked in the world of flowers than in that of 

 birds. During the past week I have watched the Distinction 

 comings and goings of a scarlet tanager, which °J sexes 

 had built his nest in the fork of a pine-tree within 

 easy view of my window, and have had ample op- 

 portunity to contrast the tropical brilliancy of his 

 plumage with the dull greenish dress of his mate, 

 a contrast greater than any I have noticed among 

 similarly related flowers. 



Almost as refreshing as the masses of meadow- Eider 

 rue are the thickets composed of the deep green Jj,^f 5 ' 

 leaves and white, spreading: flowers of the elder, swamp 



honey- 



Another beautiful shrub, which is now blossoming suckle, 

 in marshy places, especially near the coast, is the ^ndbfue 

 fragrant white swamp honeysuckle. Only among vetcb 

 the sand-hills of the coast itself do we meet with 

 the purplish blossoms of the beach-pea. Nearly 



133 



