WAKE ROBIN FARM, HOME, PENNSYLVANIA 
Violet, Sweet White (Viola blanda). A small plant, 3 to 5 inches, with small 
flowers, but with a delicate and lasting sweet scent. The flowers are white, and 
appear in April and May. An attractive ground cover. 25c each; $2.00 for 10. 
WAKE ROBIN (Trillium erectum). The Wake Robin claims this Farm for its 
very own. The name of the Farm was chosen in its honor, and rightly, too, 
because of its saucy persistence in a moist, wooded flat along our little stream. 
It flowers on a reclining stem, with purple color dominant, and taking varia- 
tions through white, pink, brown, maroon and red. Best results are obtained 
with light shade, with gritty woodland soil, rich in humus or deep loam. 
These are the ideal conditions, but by no means essential, as the Wake Robin, 
like other Trilliums, will do very well in poorer soil. Once naturalized, the 
stems from each root stock increase to several in number. The flower appears 
from April to June, from 7 tol5 inches high, and is followed by a dark red 
berry. We doubt if it really wakes up the robins in the spring, as its name 
seems to require, but it tells the Farm that spring, with all its bustle is at hand. 
Potting the Wake Robin for indoor use during the winter is a lot of fun. We 
like to start this trillium in clay pots and dishes, in company with some of its 
small intimate friends, in plenty of time for Christmas gifts to our friends. 
These come up in January and start blooming in the dead of winter. They 
are left in the pots or planted out, pot form intact, for the summer. It can 
have its natural habitat in pot or garden, by giving it rich leaf mold, and a 
sprig of Groundpine (like a miniature evergreen) to make it think it is in the 
woods. With plenty of moisture, not too soggy, it is one of the easiest of all 
to establish. 25c each; $2.00 for 10. 
Water Lily, American; White Water-Lily (Nymphaea odorata). Queen of the 
pool is the common white Water-Lily. Wherever still water can be found, in 
pond, marsh, sluggish stream, or even an old wash-tub in the yard, these clean 
white flowers, 3 to 5 inches across, rest upon their foot-wide leaf-mattresses 
and give a sense of perfect contentment. They open their petals in the morn- 
ing and, keeping hours all their own, close about noon for the rest of the day. 
25c each; $2.00 for 10. 
Wintergreen, Aromatic; Checkerberry; Boxberry; Mountain Tea (Gaultheria pro- 
cumbens). A low evergreen, with bright green leaves, which become reddish 
on maturity. Flowers are white, followed by edible scarlet berries, which are 
most aromatic and stay until the following spring. Its creeping roots quickly 
make a rich ground cover. It likes thin shade and open boggy soil. This 
compiler, as a boy, nibbled it in wooded pastures, and knew it only as Moun- 
tain Tea. A kindly way to draw and feed the hungry winter birds, who like 
the berries. The tender leaves have an aromatic taste, which everyone knows, 
and is like that of the sweet birch, since the essential oil of the two is the 
same. 25c each; $2.00 for 10. 
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