The Floral appearances of the year are accurately described by Dr.
Forster in his “Perennial Calendar.” He says, “In order to ascertain the
varieties in the seasons, as indicated by the flowering of plants, we
ought to become accurately acquainted with their natural periods, and
the average time of flowering which belongs to each species. I have of
late made an artificial division of the seasons of different plants into
six distinct periods, to each of which respectively a certain number of
species belong. Dividing then the reign of the goddess of blooms into
six principal portions, we shall begin with the first in the order of
phenomena. The Primaveral Flora may be said to commence with the first
breaking of the frost before February; it comprehends the snowdrop, the
crocus, the coltsfoot, all the tribe of daffodils, narcissi, jonquils,
and hyacinths, the primrose, cyclamen, heartsease, violet, cowslip,
crown imperial, and many others. The Equinox being also past, and the
leaves beginning to bud forth amidst a display of blossoms on the trees,
another period may be said to begin, and May ushers in the Vernal Flora,
with tulips, peonies, ranunculi, monkey poppy, goatsbeards, and others:
at this time, the fields are bespangled with the golden yellow of the
crowfoot, or blue with the harebells. The whole bosom of earth seems
spread with a beautiful carpet, to soften the path of Flora, at this
delicious season. By and bye, towards the middle of June, the approach
of the Solstice is marked by another set of flowers; and the scarlet
lychnis, the various poppies, the lilies and roses, may be said to
constitute the Solstitial Flora. As the year declines, the Aestival
Flora, corresponding to the Vernal, paints the garish eyes of the
dog-days with sunflowers, China asters, tropoeoli, African marigolds,
and other plants which love heat. The Autumnal Flora, answering to the
Primaveral, then introduces Michaelmas daisies, starworts, and other
late blowing plants, with their companions, fungi and mushrooms, till at
length bleak winter shows only a few hellebores, aconites, and mosses,
belonging to the Hibernal Flora of this dreary season. Thus, in this our
temperate climate, have we a round of botanical amusements all the year,
and the botanist can never want for sources of recreation. How different
must be the order of phenomena about the poles of the earth, where
summer and winter are synonymous with day and night, of which Kirke
White has given us a very fine description:--
_On the North Pole._
Where the North Pole, in moody solitude,
Spreads her huge tracts and frozen wastes around,
There ice rock piled aloft, in order rude,
Form a gigantic hall; where never sound
Startled dull Silence’ ear, save when, profound
The smoke frost muttered: there drear Cold for aye
Thrones him,--and fixed on his primæval mound,
Ruin, the giant, sits; while stern Dismay
Stalks like some woe-struck man along the desert way.
In that drear spot, grim Desolation’s lair,
No sweet remain of life encheers the sight;
The dancing heart’s blood in an instant there
Would freeze to marble, Mingling day and night,
(Sweet interchange which makes our labours light,)
Are there unknown; while in the summer skies,
The sun rolls ceaseless round his heavenly height,
Nor ever sets till from the scene he flies,
And leaves the long bleak night of half the year to rise.”
~April 15.~
_St. Peter Gonzales_, or _Telm_, or _Elm_, A. D. 1246. _Sts.
Basilissa_ and _Anastasia_, 1st Cent. _St. Paternus_, Bishop, or
_Patier_, _Pair_, or _Foix_, 6th Cent. _St. Munde_, Abbot, A. D. 962.
_St. Ruadhan_, A. D. 584.