THE COMMON BLUE VIOLET 1 57 



in by the little roots, goes to the leaf, and is mixed 

 with air and moisture coming through the tiny holes 

 in the leaves.) 



And while the roots are working away and the 

 leaves are so busy, what is the little flower doing? 

 (Growing.) How does it look when you first see it 

 above ground? Picture on the board. What changes 

 do you notice as it grows older? (The stem lengthens, 

 lifting the bud higher and higher into the air and 

 sunlight. The bud grows fuller and longer. At 

 last the green blanket that covers little Violet is 

 pushed aside, and we see her blue dress.) Notice 

 how her dress was folded while she was wrapped 

 in the blanket. Did it get wrinkled? Do you 

 think you could fold a dress and pack it so tightly 

 and have it come out without a wrinkle ? What 

 becomes of the green blanket? Can you see it on 

 your flowers? It still protects Violet. Her dress 

 is very delicate. 



Do all violets wear dresses of the same tint of 

 blue ? (Some are dark and some are light.) Do they 

 ever wear any other color? (Some violets are white, 

 some are yellow, and some are purple.) Is the dress 

 in one piece? What are the pieces called? (Petals.) 

 Are they all of the same size and shape? (The 



