This flower riddle was given to me by Margie de Lyser of Cambria, California. The unsolved riddle was found folded up in a box of old letters hidden in a trunk. Can you match the clues with the flowers named here? Answers are here.
Jonquil
Flag
Maidenhair fern
Poppy
Carnation
Tiger lily
Lamb’s quarters or Phlox
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Four-o’clocks
Lilac
Angel’s trumpet
Mayflower
Tulips
Hops
Cress
Peony
Sun rose
Goldenrod
Bachelor button
Virginia creeper
Snapdragon
Smilax
Mistletoe
In Grandmother’s garden strange plants you will see,
And if you guess rightly you’ll find twenty-three.
They are all out of order for climate and time,
And arranged in this manner to give the words rhyme.
Just inside the gateway some clergymen stand (1)
With a bugler who plays in the heavenly band (2).
The name of a boy and an old-fashioned weapon (3),
You will find with the cares of all single men (4)
In Grandmother’s garden we likewise behold,
Some plants that remind us of sheep in the fold (5).
And near them all standing, too stately to bend,
That which the soldier has died to defend (6).
A state in the South and a one-year-old child (7),
Form a beautiful background in this garden wild.
Here too, with its head held haughty and high,
The dread of the jungle lurking near by (8).
Yet farther, a fairy wand all made of gold (9),
And the pride of the mermaid so fabled of old (10).
A little white sin and a spinster’s pet charm (11),
In yon shady thicket is sheltered from harm.
A time of the day (12) and a little frog’s walk (13),
And a part of the face we use when we talk (14),
The child of a suffragette known in our land,
With one letter changed to good spelling command (15).
A pet name for father (16) and an embrace so sweet (17),
Are all to be found in this quiet retreat.
But ah! Here a beauty so perfect to see—
The serf of a Mexican followed by “e” (18).
The hope of our Pilgrims (19), an attempt made to bite,
And a hideous monster once slain by a knight (20),
A mode of conveyance, a word meaning tribe,
Attracts our attention, and is Grandma’s pride (21).
A shot from a cannon, and part of the foot (22),
While along the rough pathway Grandma has put
A pleasant expression, and one sharp-edged tool (23).
Now please try to guess them and stick to the rule.
This was sent to me by Julie Whitmore. She found it in an old issue of Modern Priscilla Magazine dated 1928. Answers are here.
London pride
Lad’s love
Black-eyed Susan
Jacob’s ladder
Bishop’s hat
Blush rose
Speedwell
Eyebright
Fair maids of France
Poppy
Love-in-a-mist
Sweet William
Wake robin
Thrift
Marguerite
Johnny jump-up
Maiden pink
Bleeding heart
Coxcomb
Wallflower
Rambler
Bachelor’s buttons
Ladies tresses
English daisy
Four o’clock
Lady’s slippers
Spring beauty
Goldenrod
Honesty
Tulips
Yellow was especially becoming to little (1), and so when (2) that dashing (3), invited her to a party at (4), she gratefully accepted this proof of the (5), and put on her yellow dress and yellow (6) in honor of the occasion. First, she carefully arranged her (7), and then tiptoed softly out of the house so as not to (8), her little brother. The mirror in the hall showed her that she was a (9), and that if her name had only been (10), she would have been a real (11). Her escort’s (12) leaped high as he saw her, though, not to be outdone, he had with careful (13) polished his own (14) until they shone like a (15). “Not one of the (16) can equal your appearance!” he exclaimed proudly. “England forever!” A tinge of (17) showed on her face as he spoke with such (18), for behind it she read aright his (19). But she only answered him demurely, “I hope I shall not be a (20).” “Far from it,” he answered warmly. “I would scale (21) itself for a dance from you.” By that time they were at the party. “(22) exclaimed her escort to a boy at the door, “and give her your seat!” “Never,” answered the young (23) disagreeably, and when pressed, he gave her lover such a blow that he saw his (24). But when he saw the (25) approaching he ran away. “Oh, Billy, are you hurt?” she sobbed wildly. He opened his (26) with love and answered feebly “Will you be mine?” “Ask (27),” she answered shyly; while a (28) to her cheek. His (29) answered in the old, old way and all we can do is to wish them (30).
There’s a berry which makes my pony’s bed;
And another one which is green when red;
And there’s one which rubs you all the wrong way;
And another which swims and quacks all day;
There’s one you can play, to beguile your care;
And one at their necks the ladies wear;
There’s a berry which seems to be much depressed;
And one is a bird with a speckled breast;
There’s one we can see when the tide is low,
And the last you will be when you older grow.
Answers: Strawberry, Blackberry, Raspberry, Gooseberry, Checkerberry, Mulberry, Blueberry, Partridge-berry, Barberry, Elderberry
As soft as silk,
As white as milk,
As bitter as gall,
I’m rather tall,
And a green coat
covers me all!
Answer - The milkweed pod
Some fill me,
Some beat me,
Some kill me,
Some eat me;
I creep and I fly,
And my color is green;
And though I’m a season,
There’s quite a good reason
Why my end or
beginning there’s no
man hath seen.
Answer - Thyme