Canadian Scenery, Volume 2 (of 2)Willis, Nathaniel Parker
History
Canadian Scenery, Volume 2 (of 2)
Willis, Nathaniel Parker
Canada -- Description and travel; Canada -- History
There is great water-power, both as regards the river and the fine broad
creek which winds its way through the town, and falls into the small
lake below. There are several saw and grist-mills, a distillery,
fulling-mill, two principal inns, besides smaller ones, a number of good
stores, and a government school-house, which also serves for a church
till one more suitable should be built. The plains are sold off in pack
lots, and some pretty little dwellings are being built; but I much fear
the natural beauties of this lovely spot will be soon spoiled.
I am never weary with strolling about, climbing the hills in every
direction, to catch some new prospect, or gather some new flowers,
which, though getting late in the summer, are still abundant.
Among the plants with whose names I am acquainted, are a variety of
shrubby asters, of every tint of blue, purple, and pearly white; a lilac
_monarda_, most delightfully aromatic, even to the dry stalks and
seed-vessels; the white _gnaphalium_, or everlasting flower; roses of
several kinds, a few late buds of which I found in a valley near the
church. I also noticed among the shrubs a very pretty little plant,
resembling our box; it trails along the ground, sending up branches and
shoots; the leaves turn of a deep copper red, yet, in spite of this
contradiction, it is an evergreen. I also noticed some beautiful
lichens, with coral caps surmounting the grey hollow foot-stalks, which
grow in irregular tufts among the dry mosses; or more frequently I found
them covering the roots of the trees or half-decayed timbers. Among a
variety of fungi, I gathered a hollow cup, of the most splendid scarlet
within, and a pale fawn colour without; another very beautiful fungi
consisted of small branches, like clusters of white coral, but of so
delicate a texture, that the slightest touch caused them to break.
The ground in many places was covered with a thick carpet of
strawberries, of many varieties, which afford a constant dessert during
the season to those who choose to pick them,—a privilege of which I am
sure I should gladly avail myself were I near them in the summer.
Besides the plants I have myself observed in blossom, I am told the
spring and summer produce many others; the orange lily; the phlox, or
purple _lichnidea_; the mocassin flower, or lady’s slipper; lilies of
the valley in abundance; and, towards the banks of the creek and the
Otanahee, the splendid cardinal flower (_lobelia cardinalis_) waves its
scarlet spikes of blossoms.
I am half inclined ta be angry, when I admire the beauty of the Canadian
flowers, to be constantly reminded that they are scentless, and
therefore scarcely worthy of attention; as if the eye could not be
charmed by beauty of form and harmony of colours, independent of the
sense of smelling being gratified.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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