WEALTH OF FLOWERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1943, Page 4

WEALTH OF FLOWERS

NEAR PRISONER-OF-WAR CAMP IN GERMANY MASTERTON SOLDIER'S INTEREST A former member of the executive of the Masterton Horticultural Society, Corporal J. Wallis, has written from a prisoner-of-war camp in Germany, to the president, Mr H. L. Esau,' telling him of the wealth of flowers to be seen around the camp. He writes: — “This country is a veritable paradise for the flower lover. The rocky bergs and alpine slopes hold an amazing wealth and never-ending variety of native flora. The pride of place is held of course by the noble white edelweiss found only in rocky crevices at heights from 5 to 6 thousand feet. The Gentian family is well represented, ranging from pink to the deepest blue. Campanula, primula, auricula, saxipraga, dianthus, scabiosa, centauria, viola and aqualegia are found in great variety. There are wonderful spikes (3ft) of aconitum (monk's hood), of deepest blue, and dainty blue and .white alpine clematis creeping over and hanging from rocky outcrops. The slopes at present are smothered with scarlet masses of the alpine rose (rhododendron family) bushes 2 to 3ft, and on the meadows at lower levels the pink blooms of the autumn crocus are now appearing, a warning that the summer is nearly over. My interest in flowers has been of great help to me since I have been in captivity and nearly every day the lads bring me various flowers they have found and which I try to classify for them. My kindest regards to all 'members of the society and I hope it will not be long before I am giving Mrs Uohn Martin and Messrs Booth and Ahrens a run for the champion bloom. Cheerio all. —J. Wallis.”