Protect The Wild Flowers

Tue., April 27, 1999

From The Spokesman-Review, March 8, 1924:

To the Editor of The Spokesman-Review:

In many parts of our country, particularly near our large cities, the rapid and continuous disappearance of wild flowers, the rarest flora in the world, is causing much concern amongst the lovers of nature, for in many sections this flora has practically disappeared.

It was proposed by Frank (Dope) Smith to advertise Spokane and its genial climate through the medium of buttercups sent through the mails to friends of the senders. This appealed to me as a laudable plan and was followed by members of our family.

However, when prizes are offered for the largest numbers of these charming flowers brought in, it seems that the plan is being pushed beyond all due bounds, and if pursued through several seasons will result in the extermination of these unequaled spring blossoms.

One has only to observe the school children making indiscriminate raids on the plants, pulling them up roots and all, to visualize what will happen if this feature of the plan is to be perpetuated.

These observations also apply in great measure to all the wild flowers of the woods and fields about the city. Each season one sees innumerable automobile parties loaded down with great masses of wild flowers, frequently pulled roots and all, and which flowers afford little real joy after they are brought home.

The beauty of a wild flower lies mainly in its environment of hill and dale, woods and fields; taken away from these it loses most of its attractions for a genuine lover of nature. And what is still worse, the flowers tend each year to become more scarce through this unheeding and indiscriminate slaughter.

Emerson, in one of his essays, expresses a thought which, although applied to the sea, is equally appropriate to the wild flowers:

“I fetched my sea-born treasures home,

But the poor, unsightly, noisome things,

Had left their beauty on the shore,

With the sum and the sand and the wild uproar.” Frederic Keffer, Spokane

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.