14 



like flies hibernate under the leaves and awaken at the first 

 warm sun-rays; it is these that are commonly found about 

 the iirst skunk cabbages. A little later j early in April, 

 many forms of carrion flies and beetles are attracted to 

 them by the offensive odor that pervades the air for yards 

 about them. 



Although possessing the same mal-odorous properties, the 

 handsome, large light green leaves that follow the flowers 

 are, nevertheless an attractive addition to the appearances 

 of marshes and brook-sides. 



When we seek the second flower on our list we must hie 

 away to some dry wooded hillside. Early in !March, in 

 New England, we may find them smiling at us from among 

 the dead leaves or it ma}' be that we must first brush the 

 snow aside to get a glimpse of them, for they often bloom 

 under the snow. It is so long a time since we have seen 

 real, wild flowers that we must stop to admire them, no mat- 

 ter what our errand or how great our hurry. As though 

 to recompense us for the ugliness of the skunk cabbage, 

 this second arrival is one of the fairest and most beautiful 

 flowers that we have. 



Hepatica is one of the few plants producing flowers of 

 differing shades. On one plant the flowers may be pale 

 blue, on another pink and on a third pure white; they vary, 

 too, in size, some spreading twice as wide as others. Leaves 

 of the pre^^ous year, of a dull reddish hue, are on the plant 

 during the flowering season; new bright green ones appear 

 after the blossoms have passed away. 



Following closel}^ on the heels of hepatica come the fuz- 

 zy pussj- -willows and the far-famed arbutus which, unfor- 

 tunately, is being gathered much more freely than its nat- 

 ural increase warrants. It has already become very scarce 

 in the neighborhood of large cities. I hope that all readers 

 who gather these beautiful, fragrant blossoms will avoid 

 disturbing the roots at least. The flowers following hepa- 

 tica come in such profusion and the order varies so greatly 

 in a slight change of locality tliat a single such list is avail- 

 able only in tlie spot that it was made. 



