April and Early May 



birds have begun house-building, if not 

 house-keeping. Beyond, the glen is gay 

 with its kinsmen, the lovely white and 

 painted trilliums. Beneath round, wool- 

 ly leaves, close to the ground, hide the 

 dingy, cup-shaped blossoms of the wild 

 ginger. From the grass which borders 

 the lane peep the striped stars of the 

 spring-beauty. A little later the over- 

 hanging cliff is jewelled with the vivid 

 flowers of the columbine, its curved, 

 spur-like red petals, yellow within ; its 

 divided leaves making a soft background 

 of delicate foliage. 



But one must keep a tight rein on 

 one's adjectives when describing the ear- 

 ly flowers. At this season, not every 

 flower, of course, but pretty nearly every 

 other flower, is possessed of a beauty so 

 unique, so convincing, that for the time 

 being we are forced to yield it unques- 

 tioning homage. The delicious aroma 

 and waxen texture of the trailing arbu- 

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