MONTHLY CALENDAU. S55 



Jacob's rod, the double red Pseouy, the pride of many a rustic beau, now 

 bursts into bloom, while the rose-coloured double white varieties open their more 

 delicate blossoms. The Mountain or Tree Pseony, from the distant Chinese 

 mountains, once rare, and a fertile subject of gardening controversy, is now 

 by no means vmcommon. The milk-white balls of the Guelder Rose, the Lilac, 

 and all the magnificent American plants, are now glowing in the fulness of 

 their beauty, 



" Laburnums rieh 

 In streaming gold, syringas ivory pure. 

 The scentless and the scented rose, — this red. 

 And of a humble growth, — the other tall, 

 Her sUver globes Light as the foaming surf; 

 The lilacs — various in array, — now white, 

 Now sanguine ; the beauteous head now set 

 With purple trusses pyramidal." 



1005. Nor are the more lowly flowers, " native to the soil," less lovely even 

 in the parterre : the lily of the valley, which art has taught how to retain its 

 bloom far into summer, is always lovely, and the marigold, the "golden 

 flower" of older poets, whose 



" Winking, May-buddes begin 

 To ope their golden eyes." 



IC06. Nor are the other regions of Nature still in this lively month : the 

 groves are now harmonious and musical ; the skylark hovers in the air, 

 and the *' shrub-loving " nightingale is now heard in the dale. 



*• Up this green woodland path we'll softly rove, 

 And list the nightingale— she dweUeth here." 



1007. All the orchis tribes native to our woods are now in full bloom ; the 

 saxifrages belong to this month, and the " May " itself, which has become im- 

 personated, as it were, and, as is often done, cause and effect confounded, for 

 the sake of sound and sense, as it is v/hen the dying heroine of the plaintive 

 ballad is made to exclaim, — I'm to be Queen of the May." 



1008. The woods and hedgerows wiU be found highly productive in native 

 flowers this month ; the Ranunculacese and the Cruciferse, the Veronicas, 

 Violas, Euphorbias, and Wild Geraniums, are now in full blossom ; the au- 

 resounds with the hum of bees, and the groves re-echo with another feathered 

 favourite. We have listened to the nightingale,— hark to another, — 

 Cuckoo ! Cuckoo ! — 



" Ah ! well I know thy note ; — 

 That far-off sound the baclnvard years doth bring ; 

 Like mem'ry's loek'd-up bark, once more afloat. 

 It carries one away to life's glad spring, 

 To distant home, with all its green boughs rustling.** 



1009. The average temperature of the month is nearly ten degrees above 

 April, but it presents even an increased variation in its extremes of heat and 

 cold, which renders it very dangerous to the tender flowers aud fruits of s^jring, 

 which now, in consequence, require increased care in protecting them from 



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