Youth, Vol. I, No. 4, June 1902: An Illustrated Monthly Journal for Boys & GirlsVarious
General
Youth, Vol. I, No. 4, June 1902: An Illustrated Monthly Journal for Boys & Girls
Various
Children's literature -- Periodicals
June is the month of flowers, as May is of leaves; it is also the month
of the richest and most varied colors. The leaves are in their prime
and their flowers are in their greatest luxuriance. Green is the chief
color in the plant world. It is so constantly the color of leaves that
“green as a leaf” and “leaf green” are common expressions.
Next to green, yellow is the most conspicuous color. This is the chief
color of stamens and pistils; it is also the chief color of spring
flowers, though white blossoms also abound. When the warmth and glow of
the sunshine return to us many flowers seem to assume the livery of the
sun; flecks and streaks of sunshine gleam at us from hundreds of nooks
and corners. The bluebird and the jay come to us decked in the clear
blue of the sky, but the spring flowers outbid them a hundred to one in
choosing the “class color” of the season.
The very thought of spring is associated with dandelions, buttercups,
hawksweed, mustard, cinquefoil, primroses, cowslips, marsh marigolds,
adder’s tongue, and a hundred other yellow beauties, from the
inconspicuous parsnip and wild radish to the sunny splendor of the
meadow lily and lady’s slipper.
In Alaska the flowers are nearly all yellow or white; blue and pink
blossoms are the exceptions.
After yellow, white is the most frequent color, and we recall a
succession of blossoms, from little white chickweed through star-flower
and trillium, bunch-berry, and bell-wort, up to the great white
fragrant lilies. Next in order of abundance comes blue, then pink,
purple, red, and, least seen of all, that rich scarlet that graces the
cardinal flower and salvia.
Although light seems to have such influence on the production of color
in plants, we find many plants deeply green or gaudily colored, that
grow where there is little or no light. Sea weeds of intense green, or
painted as gayly as parrots, come from depths under water where the
light must have been very dim.
The most vivid colors are often found in the mold in jars of preserves
that have been kept entirely in the dark. This mold is a vegetable
growth.
In the spring one may notice early in the morning a bed of chickory in
bloom; it is a clear, exquisite blue; by ten o’clock the blue will be
very pale, by twelve the flowers are white, by one they are all folded
up, to open the next day as richly blue as ever. The sun plays such
tricks on blue cotton cloth. When it is exposed to the sun the blue
vanishes, and when the cloth has been put away in the darkness the fled
color returns. Other flowers besides chickory grow pale with the excess
of light, just as some grow pale from darkness. The study of color in
the plant world affords opportunity for interesting experiments.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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