After the blossom season is over, the plant puts forth its thick foliage, and so flavors the air from earliest spring till near midwinter, with the sweet aroma which belongs to both leaf and flower. Though not evergreen, the dried leaves often cling to the bushes until the new growth displaces them. This is a genuine New England colonist of our sterile pasture hills, growing in large clumps and groups with hardy persistence. [Illustration: SWEET FERN: Myrica asplenifolia.] ORCHIS FAMILY. ORCHIDACEÆ. *Gay Orchis.* _Orchis spectabilis._ *Showy Orchis.* *Spring Orchis.* Found in May, in deep wet woods. The large, single, flower-stalk reaches about 6 inches in height, and springs from between a pair of root-leaves; it is smooth and elastic. Pale green in color. The root-leaves are long (sometimes about 6 inches), broadly oval, blunt at the tip, tapering into a grooved foot; the margin is entire (as is true of all Orchids), the texture thick, and leathery. The upper side of the leaf is dull green, underside it is silvery with bloom. The leaves which occur along the flower-spike are long-pointed, erect, clasping, and alternate. The lip of the flower is large, and spreading, with a flattened spur which is largest at the tip, and as long as the foot-stem; other petals small, club-shaped, and bent over like a hood; the calyx parts stand erect, their tips pointed. All parts of the flower are leathery, and thick in texture; and colored a pale pink-violet, except the lip, which is waxen white, tinted with yellow. It is set on a short, twisted foot-stem, in the clasp of a leaf-like bract. The arrangement is alternate, in a few-flowered spike. This is a noticeably lustreless flower. The twist in the foot-stem is an interesting feature. [Illustration: GAY ORCHIS: Orchis spectabilis.] *Pink Lady’s Slipper.* _Cypripedium acaule._ *Whip-poor-will.* Found in the woods, frequently under evergreens, though sometimes in deciduous shade, during May. The slender flower-stem, from 8 to 12 inches in height, is bent like a shepherd’s crook, and bears on the curve a small, pointed, green leaf. It is hairy, and light green. There are 2 root-leaves, large (from 5 to 7 inches long), oval, with a pointed tip, and a much clasping base; the ribs are parallel, and prominent, the margin is entire, the texture is loose, and somewhat coarse, and the surface is hairy. Color, green.