IN THE FRONT YARD. 125 



needles are longer and the slieen is far brighter and 

 more radiant than in its own habitat. 



Here is another of attractive appearance, with long 

 and delicate spurs. The petals are snowy white and 

 intense blue. It seems a photograph of the sapphire 

 of the sky and the fleecy clouds. This is the Coerelia 

 of the Rockies, and the state flower of Colorado. We 

 often see these in masses at an altitude of eight or nine 

 thousand feet. In many places they grow to great size, 

 as some localities seem better adapted to their develop- 

 ment than others. When taken down to the plains they 

 need some shelter from the burning sun and hot winds. 

 This variety readily hybridizes with others, and its 

 motherhood is seen in many types in recent years. So 

 readily does it cross that though the original plants 

 will be all right, yet the progeny varies so readily and 

 to such an extent that pure seed must be secured from 

 the mountains if you would be sure. I keep a remote 

 nook in the further corner of the nursery, as far re- 

 moved as possible from the others, for their exclusive 

 use; and even here there is some danger that the bees 

 may find them, and I cannot be absolutely sure of all 

 those grown from them, so I make it a practice to secure 

 fresh seed every year or two. 



There is one of deepest, darkest blue, so much so it 

 is almost black. It is a large, solid flower. It has no 

 spurs whatever. It is quilled like the Dahlia. An- 

 other is salmon pink lined with white, a gorgeous flower, 

 and the blooms hang like lamps in a chandelier aroimd 

 the parent stem. Here is one that is a large, compact. 



