NATIVE WILD FLOWERS 



blowing. Whatever the habits of the Anemone of the 

 Grecian Isles may be, assuredly in their native haunts in 

 this country the blossoms open alike in windy weather or 

 in calm, in sunshine or in shade. It is more likely that the 

 wind acting upon the downy seeds of some species and 

 dispersing them abroad has been the origin of the idea, and 

 has given birth to the popular name which poets have made 

 familiar to the ear with many sweet lines. Bryant, who is, 

 the American poet of Nature, for he seems to revel in all 

 that is fair among the flowers and streams and rocks and 

 forest shades, has also given the name of " Wind-flower " 

 to the blue Hepatica. 



This pretty, delicate species loves the moderate shade of 

 groves and thickets; it is often found in open pinelands of 

 second growth, and evidently prefers a light and somewhat 

 sandy soil to any other, with glimpses of sunshine stealing 

 down upon it. 



The Wood Anemone is from four to nine inches in height, 

 but occasionally taller ; the five rounded sepals which 

 form the flower are white, tinged with a purplish-red or 

 dull pink on the outside. The leaves are three-parted, 

 divided again into three, toothed and sharply cut, and 

 somewhat coarse in texture; the three upper stem leaves- 

 form an involucre about midway between the root and the- 

 flower-cup. 



Our Wood Anemone is a cheerful little flower, gladden- 

 ing us with its blossoms early in the month of May. It is 

 very abundant in the neighborhood of Toronto, on the 

 grassy banks and piney dells of Dovercourt, and elsewhere. 



" There thickly strewn in woodland bowers, 

 Anemones their stars unfold." 



A taller species, Anemone dichotoma, with very beauti- 

 ful white starry flowers, is found on gravelly banks by 



21 



