[ 96-2 

 FRINGED GENTIAN 



October 19, 1852. At 5 p.m. I found the fringed 

 gentian now somewhat stale and touched with frost, 

 being in the meadow toward Peter's. Probably on 

 high, moist ground it is fresher. It may have been in 

 bloom a month. It has been cut off by the mower, 

 and apparently has put out in consequence a mass of 

 short branches full of flowers. This may make it later. 

 I doubt if I can find one naturally grown. At this hour 

 the blossoms are tightly rolled and twisted, and I see 

 that the bees have gnawed round holes in their sides 

 to come at the nectar. They have found them, though 

 I had not. "Full many a flower is born to blush un- 

 seen" by man. An hour ago I doubted if fringed gen- 

 tians were in Concord now, biit, having found these, 

 they as it were surrender, and I hear of them at the 

 bottom of N. Barrett's orchard toward the river, and 

 by Tuttle's (?). They are now, at 8 a.m., opening a 

 little in a pitcher. It is too remarkable a flower not to 

 be sought out and admired each year, however rare. 

 It is one of the errands of the walker, as well as of the 

 bees, for it yields him a more celestial nectar still. It 

 is a very singular and agreeable surprise to come upon 

 this conspicuous and handsome and withal blue 

 flower at this season, when flowers have passed out of 

 our minds and memories; the latest of all to begin to 

 bloom, unless it be the witch-hazel, when, excepting 

 the latter, flowers are reduced to that small Spartan 



