of the northeast. The habit of flowering before the leaves appear 
has been beautifully described by Emerson, in his “Rhodora” 
as “leafless bloom’’. At the opposite end of the bog are plants 
of the Labrador Tea ( Ledum groenla?idicum ), with shiny russet 
leaves, and small white flowers. Both these shrubs inhabit the 
cold bogs of the far north, and are not at all at home here on 
Long Island; they are found wild in the Catskills. In their native 
region, they flower usually earlier than this, but these plants 
have only recently been transplanted. 
Along the shaded path, the lady’s slipper, or moccasin flow- 
er ( Cypripedium acaule ) with its pink blossoms, will be in bloom 
by the end of the week. It is the only one of the group in which 
the flower springs directly from the ground, instead of being 
borne on the leafy stem, as in the yellow-flowered species. 
Near the lady’s slipper is a cluster of the common wild geran- 
ium ( Geranium maculatum) , sometimes called cranesbill. The 
rootstocks of this purple flowered herb are much used in medi- 
cine. 
The globeflowers of Europe are so common in gardens that 
we are surprised to find how rare is the American globeflower 
( Trollius laxus ) . This buttercup-like plant, with pretty greenish- 
yellow flowers, is now blooming on the path. It is very rare 
hereabouts, having been found on Long Island years ago, but 
not recently. It is more common in Rockland County than else- 
where. 
Among plants not native, the horse-chestnut {Aesculus Hip- 
pocasta?ium) is about to open its erect cluster of cream-white 
flowers. Also, the Japanese barberry ( Berberis Thunbergii) , per- 
haps the most horticulturally satisfactory barberry known, is 
now flowering. It is common in most of the decorative plantings 
in the Garden, and may be recognized by its small clusters of 
tiny white flowers. The red fruits of this shrub remain on all 
winter, making it useful as a decorative plant when little of this 
nature is available. 
One of the few yellow-flowered shrubs to bloom in the spring 
is the true kerria ( Kerria japo?iica) , one of the rose family. It 
has curious greenish twigs, and a profusion of yellow flowers. 
There is a fall-flowering strain of this species, which is more 
common in the nurseries than the spring flowering form. Our 
plants are about midway of the Garden, along the Flatbush 
Avenue fence. 
N. T. 
NOTICE 
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden (of the Brooklyn Institute of 
Arts and Sciences) is open free to the public daily, from 8 a. m. 
until sunset ; on Sundays and holidays at 10 a. m. Entrances on 
Flatbush Avenue, opposite Prospect Park; on Washington 
Avenue, south of Eastern Parkway; and on Eastern Parkv'ay, 
between the Museum building and Prospect Heights reservoir. 
A docent will meet parties by appointment and conduct them 
through the Garden. Telephone, 6173 Prospect. 
Additional copies of this and preceding Leaflets may be had 
on request by mail or otherwise. 
