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August 18, 1852. To Joe Clark's and Hibiscus 

 Bank. . . . The hibiscus flowers are seen a quarter of 

 a mile off over the water, like large roses, now that 

 these high colors are rather rare. Some are exceed- 

 ingly delicate and pale, almost white, just rose- 

 tinted, others a brighter pink or rose-color, and all 

 slightly plaited (the five large petals) and turned 

 toward the sun, now in the west, trembling in the 

 wind. So much color looks very rich in these locali- 

 ties. The flowers are some four inches in diameter, 

 as large as water-lilies, rising amid and above the 

 button-bushes and willows, with a large light-green 

 tree-like leaf and a stem half an inch in diameter, 

 apparently dying down to a perennial (.'') root each 

 year. A superb flower. Where it occurs it is certainly, 

 next to the white lily, if not equally with it, the most 

 splendid ornament of the river. ... As I made excur- 

 sions on the river when the white lilies were in bloom, 

 so now I should make a hibiscus excursion. 



Journal, iv, 299, 301. 



