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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



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Photograph by Frances L,a Follette 



SAND-DUNE WOODLANDS IN WINTER 



Each succeeding season among the dunes brings its 

 pictures of natural beauties and scenic charms. 



dant moisture, makes a condition of soil 

 that is ideal, and the result is a luxuriant 

 plant growth that is almost tropical. 



The dune-floor vegetation is more 

 striking than the arborescent growth, and 

 the wealth of herbaceous plant life is re- 

 markable. Even on the exposed lake 

 beach and on newly formed sand drifts 

 pioneer plants are constantly springing 

 up. Hardy grasses, sea rockets, artemi- 

 sias, sand cherries, and many others take 

 advantage of the slightest opportunity, 

 and around these plants embryo dunes 

 form, which in time grow and join the 



ever-changing and fascinating 

 panorama of dune succession. 



As soon as a slight covering of 

 humus accumulates, possession is 

 taken by the stronger plant 

 growth, and bearberry, juniper, 

 arrow woods, and sumacs soon 

 fill up the vacant spaces, prepar- 

 ing the way for the tree growth 

 that is waiting its turn. 



The black oak is the most con- 

 spicuous tree of the older dunes, 

 but it is accompanied by many 

 others, mostly deciduous, al- 

 though there are a few ever- 

 greens and one other conifer — 

 the tamarack. 



Basswood, poplars, tulip, sassa- 

 fras, juneberry, flowering dog- 

 wood, white and gray pines, and 

 occasionally white oaks, are all to 

 be found in the drier parts of the 

 dunes ; and in the lower lands 

 sour gum, red maple, swamp 

 white oak, pawpaw, cherry, and 

 the larger sumacs grow luxuri- 

 antly in the peaty soil. 



A NEW GREEN FOR EVERY SEASON 



Each season in the dunes has 

 its own individual attraction. In 

 springtime the dark greens of 

 pines and junipers make a fit- 

 ting background for the delicate 

 shades of the opening foliage of 

 the deciduous trees, with their 

 soft greens, pinks, and reds. 

 Great splashes of white blossoms 

 of shad bush, cherry, plum, and 

 viburnums ; the striking blossoms 

 of flowering dogwood and button 

 bush ; masses of red maple pendants and 

 the delicate coloring of the oaks make a 

 strong appeal to the esthetic sense of the 

 lover of Nature. 



Over all the taller growth are scattered 

 draperies of vines, softening the rigid 

 outlines and adding their blossoms to the 

 marvelous display. 



The herbaceous plant life is even more 

 varied and wonderful. Great masses of 

 bird's-f oot and other violets, lupines, phlox 

 of different colors, trilliums, waxy bells 

 of wintergreen and blueberry, hepaticas, 

 trailing arbutus — not just a few flowers, 



