TREES IN THE EARLY SUMMER LANDSCAPE 229 



Optional Study 7. A Calendar of Spring Growth 



This study is for one's own dooryard. It is intended to 

 foster acquaintance with the plants one lives with all the 

 while. These are apt to be choice things that have been 

 sought out and planted, and other things that have come in 

 uninvited, and that we call weeds. Nature makes no dif- 

 ference in her treatment of them; the rain falls and the 

 sun shines on them all alike. The following study should 

 be made with like impartiality. It should continue through 

 the entire term, observations of every actively growing 

 species being made at least once a week. All kinds of door- 

 yard or roadside plants are available, whether giant trees or 

 puny herbs. 



For record, the observations may be entered in a cross- 

 ruled table having the left-hand column reserved for plant 

 names, and each of the other columns devoted to one day's 

 observations, the date being written at the top. Following 

 the name of each plant, there should be written under proper 

 date the first obvious swelling of the bud, the first leaf open 

 (as determined by the exposure of its upper surface), the 

 first flower open, the first fruit ripe, etc., and any other little 

 idiosyncrasies of the plant that appear from time to time. 

 Footnotes may be made to include observations for which 

 there is not room in the table. 



Optional Study 8. A Calendar of Spring Flowers 



Observations on the blossoming of the early spring flowers 

 is less work than pleasing pastime. It is worth while from 

 every point of view; and this study is offered in the hope 

 that more of it will be done voluntarily. 



If one would keep track of the flowers of his own locality, 

 he should first know where the near-by places are in which 

 the wild flowers abound, and then he should so lay out his 



