62 Cfte CKarHen's 



cepting earlier species in less favored localities. 

 Many of the flowers that we shall meet in the 

 swamps and woods will be found worthy of a 

 conspicuous place in the garden. Few realize 

 the richness of our native flora. Comparatively 

 few are familiar with its infinite grace and beauty 

 in its chosen haunts. Fewer still appreciate how 

 many of our wild flowers thrive under proper 

 cultivation, or how much they add to the charm 

 of the garden. Nature shows us the effect of 

 liberal planting and bold massing. The wood- 

 lands hold no bare patches ; each flower is 

 quickly succeeded by another. The ground 

 now glowing with the little spring beauty (Clay- 

 tonia Vtrginica) will soon be painted with vio- 

 lets and Trillhims ; and where the Hepaticas 

 run riotously over the hill-side, ferns and flower- 

 ing plants innumerable will take the place they 

 have vacated. The Hepatica is one of the earli- 

 est flowers to extend an invitation to the woods. 

 It grows on sandy hill -sides, frequents open 

 glades hides, in shady hollows, and, like Mont- 

 gomery's daisy, "blossoms everywhere." In 

 color it varies from a lovely blue to pure white, 

 shading to lavender and a soft flesh-tint. The 

 spring beauty is scarcely less charming, and is 

 even more prodigal in moist places. Not sat- 

 isfied with one color, its flower -clusters also 



