Around the " Pond " — First Excursion 



ter of full-grovra trees, presents, in full sunlight, such a 

 splendid spectacle as is unsurpassed by all the scenes 

 of spring. The shining willow (^Salix lucida), whose 

 broader leaf, glossy and deep green, has less of the wil- 

 low character, is admirable for strong color where the 

 scenery needs the emphasis of a small but conspicuous 

 tree. Mention is made elsewhere of the weeping willow, 

 to which stern science, with an unwonted sentiment of 

 poetry, has aptly given the specific name of Babylonica. 



Bald Cypress. — Like tall sentinels stationed here and 

 there through the Park stand the bald cypresses (Tax- 

 odium distichuni), the most columnar trees in the grounds 

 save the Lombardy poplar. This is a deciduous conifer ; 

 which means that, though having cones like evergreens, 

 its foliage is shed each fall — evidently one of the links 

 (not missing) that bridge the broad interval between 

 such diverse forms as the maple and the spruce. 



With the impassive air of evergreens, the cypresses 

 have a half-mournful look that the eye cannot long dwell 

 upon with pleasure. They are cold and statuesque, but 

 the world needs some of them, though not many, for 

 their tjrpe strongly contrasts with everything around 

 them, and an observant eye will pause to note their 

 singularity. In full foliage they are richly but delicately 

 draped in green, but are most peculiar in late spring 

 when the closely crowded buds are just opening, and a 

 fine continuous ruff of light green runs along the upper 

 edge of every limb, strongly emphasized by the almost 

 black bark ; the effect is a little like that of the budding 

 larch, but more striking. Nature had a divided mind 

 63 



