TELLING TIME BY FLOWERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 209, 4 September 1899, Page 7

TELLING TIME BY FLOWERS.

The phenomenon of certain species of flowers opening and closing a t particular hours has been utilised by an Ohio landscape gardener to add a unique decoration to t! ue grounds of John D. Rockefeller's country seat at Tarrytown. Jt consists of a flower bed which can be tised as a clock. The bed is circular and divided into twelve parts. Each part contains a flcrure composed of a flower which opens or closes nt the corresponding hour. Thus the two space is occupied ly a 11. made of hawkweed, which closes at 2 p.m. precisely. The 'hands are stationary, of course, and are composed of the common yellow dandelion, which opens at 5.H0 a.m. and closes at 5.30 p.m., and point to arratigements of flowers representing these figures. Among the flowers used ive the snow thistle, which opens at 5 a m., and begins to close at eleven, put does not fully close until noon; the yellow goats-beard, which opens a t 4 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m.; the blue chicory which opens at 4 a.m. and closes at noon; the morning glory, poi'P\'> water-lily, pimpernel, and marigold, opening at 5, 7, 8 and 9 a.m. respectively: the Star of Bethlehem, which closes at 11; the passion flower, which opens at noon: white lychnis, opening at 0, and blue convolvulus at 2 a.m.