202 PREPARING FOR SPRING 



come. They lend a charm even to the frozen ground 

 by their symmetrical outlines and torpid promise of 

 renewed life. In spring they will speedily wither as 

 the strong, coarse stalk rises from the ground. Some 

 of the outer points of the circles are already turning 

 brown. 



There are other decorative rosettes nestling close 

 on the hard, frozen surface. The Viper's Bugloss, 

 branded by an unsympathetic community as a 

 noxious weed, in spite of the bright picturesque 

 aspect of its blue, bristling spikes of flowers, appears 

 like dark green stars under the withered grass and 

 sedges. Its coarser and bristling texture distinguishes 

 it from the evening primrose. In summer it displays 

 a decorative scheme peculiarly its own, coarsely 

 picturesque, with unfolding spikes of small blue 

 tubular flowers relieved by pink buds and red pro- 

 truding stamens. The best time to study the wild 

 flowers is all the year round. The Shepherd's Purse, 

 more conspicuous as a weed than as a flower, now 

 takes on a fine rosette form and lies close to the 

 ground, its deeply-lobed leaves in a less regular circle 

 presenting an excellent decorative effect. In summer 

 its little, two-lobed, purse-like seed pods will be more 

 conspicuous than its diminutive white flowers. Just 

 now it is at its best. The Saxifrage spreads a Uttle 

 irregular bunch of leaves on the ground, seeming 

 eager for a chance to hide away under the snow. 



