204 SUMMER FLOWERS. 



they are the workmanship of the same hand that created the host 

 of Heaven. 



The Ahum, or wild-turnip, is now in blossom ; it is found in shad)'- 

 places. The root is valuable in medicine. The Calla palustris, or 

 water arum, abounds in wet grounds. 



The Aquilegia, or wild columbine, with its horned nectaries, is 

 found hanging in rich clusters from the clefts of rocks. The early- 

 garden flowers are the snow-drop, crocus, crown-imperial, violet, 

 primula, polyanthus, daffodil, and others of the narcissus genus. 



Flowers of Summer. 



The plants which are now in blossom are very numerous; we will 

 mention a few of the most common and interesting. 



A well-known shrub, the elder, (Sambdcus.) is now found along- the 

 sides of hedges, or on the margin of brooks, and in the meadows; 

 the RuBUs, or raspberry, the Ranunculus, or butter-cup, the Cynoglos- 

 suM, or hound's-tongue, and the Trifouum, or clover. It is recorded 

 in history that when St. Patrick went as a missionary to preach the 

 Gospel to the pagan Irish, " he illustrated the doctrine of the Trinity, 

 by showing them a trifolium or three-leaved grass with one stalk ; 

 this operating to their convictioii, the Shamrock, Avhich is a bundle 

 of this grass, was ever afterward worn upon this Saint's anniver^ 

 sary, to commemorate this event." 



In the meadows is seen at this time the Geranium macnlatvm, a 

 sho-wy flower, and almost the only American Geranium; in the 

 woods, the splendid ladies'-shpper, (Cypripedium,") and the wild man- 

 drake, (Podophyllum,) a flower of curious appearance. 



The gerius Convallaria, of which the Solomon's seal is an exam- 

 ple, may now be found ; it is usually white, of a funnel-form corolla. 

 Some other species, as the lily-of-the-valley, have a bell-form corolla. 

 The various species of Vaccinium, of which the whortleberry is an 

 example, are now in blossom ; the woods are ornamented by the 

 snowy white Cornus, or dog-wood flowers. 



In the early part of June the foliage of the trees usually appears 

 in perfection; among the earliest are the willow, poplar, and alder; 

 next are the bass-wood, horse-chestnut, oak, beech, ash, Avalnut, 

 and mulbeiTy, which are not all usually in full leaf before the mid- 

 dle of June. 



At the summer solstice a new race of blossoms appears: as the 

 roses, pinks, and hlies, with many other exotics. The Iris is found 

 in stagnant waters and in gardens. Among native plants we now 

 And the Asclepias, or milk-weed, of which there are some ver).' 

 showy, and some delicate species. The little bell-flower (Campap,- 

 ula) may be seen nodding over the brows of the rocks. 



The brilliant laurel (Kalmla) is now in bloom. The climbing vir- 

 gin's-bower (Clematis) hangs in giaceful clusters of white flowers 

 fi-oni the boughs of shrubs and trees growing by the side of brooks. 

 The curious side-saddle flower, (Sarracenia.) Avhich was described 

 under the class Polyandria, is now to be found in swamps and wet 

 grounds. The mullein, with its long yellow spike, is very conspicuous 

 in old fields and by the road-side. 



More flowers are in blossom about the time of the summer sol- 

 stice than during any period of the year, until the blossoming of the 

 iiutumnal plants. The hot breath of summer seems to wither the 

 expanding flowers, the earlier ones fade away, and the late ones do 



■VVilil-tiirnip, &c.— Flowers of June— Elder, &c.— St. Patrick's use of the clover— 

 Geraiiiuii), &c.— Convallaria— Trees— Blossoms appearing at the summer solstice— 

 What I Hect does the heat of summer have upon flowers? 



