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 
