198 
SUMMER FLOWERS. 
Bucus), is now fo jnd along the sides of hedges, or on the margin 
of brooks, and in the meadows ; the Rubus, or 7'a8pberry^ the 
Ranunculus, or hutter-cup^ the Cynoglossum, or liouncPs-tongue^ 
and the Tkifolium, or clover. It is recorded in history, that when 
St. Patrick went as a missionary to preach the Gospel to thu 
then pagan Irish, " he illustrated the doctrine of the Trinity by 
showing them a trifolium, or three-leaved grass with one stalk ; 
this operating to their conviction, the Shamrock, which is a 
bundle of this grass, was ever afterward worn upon this saint's 
anniversary to commemorate this event." In the meadows is 
seen at this time the Geranium maculatum.^ a showy flower, 
and ahnost the only American geTanium ^ in the woods, the 
splendid ladies^ -slipper (Cypripedium), and the wild-mwndrake 
(Podophyllum), a flower of curious appearance. The genus 
CoNVALLARiA, of which the Solomon'' s-seal is an example, may 
now be found ; it is usually white, with a funnel-form corolla. 
Some other species, as the lily -of -the-^ alley ^ have a bell-form 
corolla. The various species of Yaccinium, of which the whortle- 
berry is an example, are now in blossom ; the woods are orna 
mented by the snowy- white Cornus, or dog-wood flowers. 
302. In the early part of June the foliage of the trees usual- 
ly appears in perfection ; among the earliest are the willow^ 
poplar^ and alder ; next are the hass-wobd^ horse-chestnut^ oah^ 
oeech^ ash^ walnut^ and mulberry^ which are not all usually in 
full leaf before the middle of June. At the summer solstice a 
new race of blossoms appears — the roses^ pinks^ and lilies^ with 
many other exotics. . The Iris is found in stagnant waters and 
in gardens. Among native plants we now find the Asclepias, 
or milk-weed., of which there are some very showy, and some 
delicate species. The little hell-flower (Campanula) may be 
seen nodding over the brows of the rocks. The brilliant laurel 
(Kalmia) is now in bloom. The climbing virgin'' s-hotver (Clp 
matis) hangs in graceful clusters of white flowers from the 
boughs of shrubs and trees, growing by the side of brooks. 
The curious side-saddle flower (Sarracenia) is now to be found 
in swamps and wet grounds. The mullein^ with its long yellow 
spike, is very conspicuous in old fields and by the road-side. 
More flowers are in blossom about the time of the summer 
soltice than during any period of the year, until the blossoming 
of the autumnal plants. The hot breath of summer withers the 
expanding flowers, the earlier ones fade away, and the late ones 
do not immediately come forward ; — it would seem as if the 
earth, having poured forth in rapid succession innumerable 
treasures, now required a suspension of her eflTorts ; but, with 
Elder, &c. — St. Patrick's use of the clover. — Geranium, &c.— Convallaria. — 302. Trees— Blossom i 
ap])earing at the summer solstice. — What elfect does the heat of summer have upon flowers ? 
