7O ESCAPED FROM GARDENS 



Daffies brave the late March air, along the runnel 

 edge below the bank wall, and also in many sheltered 

 places on the orchard slope, blooms the sweet 

 White English Violet, its flowers held low above 

 half unfurled leaves, all huddling for protection to 

 the ground like some fragrant flowering moss. 



Two plants of old England's lore and literature 

 live almost side by side on this New England hill, 

 one carpeting the orchard, the other growing sparsely 

 in a fence corner. One is the Wild Thyme of 

 song and fragrant memory, waiting for summer to 

 show its minute purple flowers in company with 

 the various Mints and Catnip; the other Johnny- 

 jump-up, father of modern Pansies, the magic 

 flower of Puck called Heartsease, in legend once a 

 White Violet, but transformed and dyed by Love, 

 who stole its fragrance. 



"Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell: 

 It fell upon a little western flower, 

 Before milk-white: now purple with love's wound, 

 And maidens call it Love-in-idleness." 



So by a flowery way comes Shakespeare's thought 

 to Lonetown! 



In early summer, when all the wild fields are 

 white and gold with Ox-eye Daisies, Moneywort 



