Through the Sivavips in Augicst. i8j 



THROUGH THE SWAMPS IN AUGUST. 



There are many people who argue that the finest wild flowers 

 of the season are found in the spring time, and they are always 

 desirous of scouring the woods and searching hill and vale for the 

 harbingers of spring; the fragrant Trailing Arbutus, Hepaticas, 

 Anemones and the like, that appear as soon as the wintry blasts 

 have died away and the balmy air and gentle zephyrs betoken the 

 coming of spring. Those who have this impression are in a 

 measure correct, but they must not for a moment entertain the 

 idea that when " Old Sol" pours down his hottest rays and when 

 the hot and scorching winds of a mid-summer day blow across the 

 meadows, that there are no wild flowers worthy of notice. Prob- 

 ably one great reason why the mid-summer flowers are so neglect- 

 ed and little thought of, is on account of the usual great heat. 

 The botanist as well as the most casual lover of flowers, is very 

 much interested and becomes very enthuFiastic in hunting in the 

 spring time, in cool weather and gentle breezes blowing where 

 everything is fresh and lovely, but as the weeks roll by he becomes 

 tired of the sport, and when the hot months of July and August 

 come, he is ready to drop botany for that year, rather than spend 

 such hot days in the field. We can hardly blame one for these 

 inclinations yet can softly say that if one were to rouse himself, 

 and scour the fields and wander beside the shady brook and along 

 the swamps, he will be well repaid. In direct contrast to the 

 delicate and small plants of spring, we find in August huge hardy 

 plants with generally larger and more gorgeous flowers! A trip 

 by the swamps and wet meadow on an August day, will reveal to 

 the most careless observer, the most conspicuous and handsome 

 of flowers. Let us glance at a few that we would meet on a ram- 

 ble in the haunts of these fine August bloomers. 



Along flowing streams and in swamps, our attention is first 

 caught by the immense, beautifully tinted, roseate flowers of the 

 Hibiscus Moschatus or Swamp Rose Mallow. It will be recog- 

 nized by its striking resemblance to the Hollyhock; they both be- 

 long to the same family. The slalk of the Hibiscus often grows 

 to the height of six feet, and is of itself not at all homely, and the 

 flower is simply gorgeous. One of the finest displays of this plant 

 is found in the Montezuma Marshes in New York State. It is 

 here very abundant and aflbrds a fine spectacle. It is a great 

 wonder that a plant with such handsome flowers is not cultivated, 

 but seemingly no general attempts to domesticate it have been 

 made. 



In the haunts of the Rose Mallow is found the splendid Cardinal 

 flower (Lobelia Cardinalis). This is generally more common than 

 the preceding, and is more diffused and less local. It is generally 

 found in low grounds. The plant bears a large spike of hand- 

 some, intensely red, showy flowers, rarely varying to rose color 



