WAKE: ROBIN FARM 
Wake Robin (Trillium erectum). The Wake Robin or 
Red Trillium has claimed this Farm for its very own. 
The Farm was named in its honor. It abounds on a 
steep wooded hillside by a little stream. It flowers on 
a reclining stem, 7 to 15 inches high. Maroon is the 
dominant color, with slightly darker and lighter vari- 
ations. Blooms April to June, after which the three 
leaves grow large to make food for root storage. If 
flower and leaves are plucked, blooming may skip the 
next year or the root may die for lack of nourishment. 
- Red berries in autumn. This Trillium is supposed to 
wake up the robins in the spring, but around here it 
is days and days late, ruddy with confusion. Like other 
members of the Trillium Genus of the Lily Family, 
Wake Robin is called Trillium because it is distinctive- 
ly triple in all its parts—3 leaves, 3 sepals, 3 petals, 3 
styes, 3-celled ovary, twice. three stamens, and 3 broad- 
ly ovate leaves. Wake Robin’s special friends include 
Maidenhair Fern, Bloodroot and Wild Ginger. 30c 
each; $3.00 for 12. 
Water Lily, White; Sweet-Scented Water Lily (Castalia 
odorata). Queen of the pool. Wherever still or slug- 
gish water can be found, these clean white flowers will 
rest upon their wide floating leaves in perfect content- 
ment. They open their petals in the morning and, 
keeping hours all their own, close around noon for the 
day. The flowers are white, sometimes creamy white, 
3 to 5 inches across, with petals which seem to merge 
into the central stamens. True to name, they are very 
sweetly scented. They belong to the small, select 
Nymphza Family, nympha meaning “bride.” The black 
root, big and clubby, placed at the bottom of fish 
pond or sunken wash tub, is uncommonly vigorous 
and winter resistant, sending persistent stems to the 
surface when the ice melts in the spring. 35¢ each; 
$3.50 for 12. 
Wintergreen, Aromatic; Checkerberry; Teaberry; Box- 
berry; Mountain Tea (Gaultheria procumbens). Ever- 
- green ground cover, spreading by creeping roots. Once 
established, the ground becomes matted with a wealth 
of fleshy, shiny, dark green leaves; of nodding little 
waxy white flowers in July and August; and later of 
deeply cherry-red berries. The berries are extremely 
aromatic, feed the hungry winter birds, and tend to 
cling through winter, releasing their seeds in spring 
for additional propagation. This compiler as a boy 
nibbled the leaves in open pastures, along railroad- 
embankments and such, knowing it only as Mountain 
Tea. 30c each; $3.00 for 12. 
N 
KX 

