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The size of the flowers varies greatly on neighboring bushes, also 

 the richness of perfume, some bushes bearing flowers nearly two 

 inches long, exceedingly fragrant, while on other bushes the 

 flowers are not much over an inch long and have little fragrance. 

 The flowers are usually pure white, but on one bush that I know 

 a faint pink is to be seen on the buds. 



For a few days early in July our hills are drifted over with 

 the feathery white blooms of the New Jersey tea {Ceanothus 

 americanus). I am told that in the "back districts" country 

 people still make use of the leaves as a substitute for tea, as 

 the loyal colonists did in Revolutionary times. 



Happily, wild roses grow almost everywhere, and put forth 

 their blossoms in profusion. The pasture rose {Rosa humilis) 

 and the swamp rose {R. Carolina) are the most common here, 

 and bloom all through July and well into August. Occasionally 

 new shoots will bloom late in September, and I have found a 

 few in October, after several frosts. These later blooms seem 

 always more fragrant and beautiful than those which appear 

 in the regular season, and are graciously pleased to remain fresh 

 and lovely for a couple of days in the house. 



Late in July the swamps and wet woods are made most 

 attractive by the beautiful and fragrant white alder {Clethra 

 alnijolia) and button-bush {Cephalanthus occidentalis). Un- 

 fortunately the first shower spoils the beauty of the button-bush, 

 turning all the tiny flowers brown, but after the flowers are all 

 gone the bush is again interesting, with its dark green leaves 

 veined with red, and the curious balls of seeds. The white 

 alder has a longer blooming season, sometimes lasting into Sep- 

 tember, and is one of the accommodating bushes, permitting its 

 flowers to remain fresh and sweet for several days in the house. 



During September and the first part of October, the bushes 

 and trees that delighted us with beautiful flowers earlier in the 

 year enchant us with the wonderful coloring of their leaves and 

 fruit, so we cannot mourn the flowers. All the dogwoods and 

 viburnums show marvellous combinations and blendings of reds 

 and yellows and blues. And now the sumacs, to which we have 

 paid no attention during the summer, flame from every field and 



