IN THE FRONT YARD. 145 



A native Gaillardia grows in Western l^ebraska 

 which flowers freely. This also seems to be an an- 

 nual, blooming freely in the summer. Grandiilora is 

 perennial. 



THE ORIENTAL POPPY. 



Years ago, visiting one of the eastern parks, I saw 

 a marvelous flower. It was a very blaze of splendor — 

 dazzling in its effulgence. The blossoms were of im- 

 mense size, and of flame color so brilliant as to amaze 

 you. They were often seven inches across, and within 

 a seed pod of exquisite symmetry, and set around it 

 were featherj^ and delicate stamens. The inner sides 

 of the petals were adorned with the most remarkable 

 tracery and pencilings, and all this inside work was 

 done in ebony. Taken as a whole, its immense size 

 and exquisite workmanship made it a marked flower. 

 I had tried so many choice things from the east and 

 found them failures in the west, I was a little afraid 

 of this. The next year I secured some, and found to 

 my delight that they are well adapted to all the West 

 and Is'orthwest. Since then I have seen them grow- 

 ing without winter protection in the Yellowstone Park 

 in a garden near the Mammoth Hot Springs. They 

 prove hardy in Minnesota, and I saw them in Mani- 

 toba, so that there is no doubt of their hardiness. 



The root is in shape and color like a small parsnip. 

 The seeds are so small it is a diflicult matter to raise 

 them. You must put them under a screen, and put 

 burlap over them, and water that every night till the 



