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sought, not only for its beauty, but also the distinctive and pleasing odor of the blossoms. Little seed is formed on the Mayflower, as

it depends mostly on runners for reproduction. Like most of our attractive wild flowers it should be gathered lightly or not at all.

Soon after the Mayflower, Violets make their appearance. Several species are known in the province but the common ones are the Blue and White. Violets prefer moist areas, often at the edge of streams or ponds. The Blue Violet is the more common and showy, but the white ones, like the Mayflower, have a more pleasing odor.

An early summer flower, common in the province but not too well known, is yellow Clintonia or Blue Bead Lily. The greenish yellow blooms, in clusters of three to six, rise from a group of three bright green leaves at ground level. It is found in dry, mixed woodland. In midsummer the seed capsules are very conspicuous and resemble blue beads, hence the name.

False Lily-of-the valley should be known to everyone in spite of its small size. The bloom resembles that of Lily-of—the-Valley but is much smaller. The plants, four to six inches high, have two shiny, heart shaped leaves and these are alternate on the stem rather than opposite. It is very widespread in the province and is often found along with Clintonia. Other names for this plant are Canada Mayflower and Heart Leaf Lily.

Two species of Trillium are fanly cOmmon in the Province. The Nodding Trillium may be easily overlooked, because of the almost white blossoms are hidden below the three rather large leaves at the top of the plant. Painted Trillium, on the other hand, is quite showy and the white blooms, streaked with pink in the throat, are easily seen. Trilliums are found in open, rich woodland featuring mixed or hardwood stands. It is much better to enjoy the beauty of Trillium in it's natural habitat rather than in a vase in your living room. Both species are much less common in recent years and they should have all the protection they can get.

P.E. Islander's floral emblem is the Pink Lady's Slipper, a member of the Orchid family. The bloom features a large inflated lower petal or lip, split along the top. This plant is variable, not only in it's choice of living area, but in color as well. The color ranges from white to deep pink and all shades may sometimes be found in one plantation. It may be found in bog land, dry up- land areas, and even in exposed locations near the coast. The blossoms are borne on stems from six inches to a foot or more in length, and the stems arise from a pair of two large, oval-shaped leaves at ground level. Where Pink Lady's Slippers are found, Clintonia and False Lily—of-the—Valley are almost sure to be present also. Indications are that there are more Pink Lady's Slippers in the province than there were thirty years ago. However, this is no excuse for excessive gathering of the blooms. Enjoy them when you find them, but leave them be so that others may share your enjoyment.

Bruce MacLaren Natural History Society of P.E.I

Bonshaw Hills Trail

A problem arose at Appin Road last Fall when a new house and a mobile home were placed precisely on the trail. An hour or two of work re-routed the trail away from the house.‘ Across the road, the mobile home was sold and moved away. Now, a minor re-routing by-passes the lot. After consulting with the property owners, enough remained of the fine afternoon of April 9 for a short snowshoe hike westward along the trail. With 3 feet of snow in the woods, it was a continuous. problem to find the trail. This section from Appin Road down to Green's Brook is the only part that had not been marked with paint. ’ I MIL: '

' 30 H. TR‘ . "'."'