36 FROM A MIDDLESEX GARDEN 



Fresh odours of newly-turned earth, with its leafy 

 fragrance bringing back autumn remembrances ; a cluster 

 of blackthorn stars in the hedge catching the eyes and en- 

 tangling them in its beauty; or suddenly, under brown of 

 leaf-retaining oaks, there holds our vision a drift of celan- 

 dine leaves, whose rich store of buds tell of the gallant show 

 of colour they will make, and the golden carpet they will 

 spread for the swallow. Even these beauties have hiding 

 within them the fuller treasure of summer. 



On the floor of the upland wood the exquisitely cut 

 foliage of the wind-flower (Anemone nemorosa) is showing its 

 vernal green, above which will wave in the breezes of 

 March and April one of the fairest of our woodland floral 

 bells ; deep in the heart of our historic woods they live 

 their brief lives, lavishing their pearly beauty upon the 

 tenants of their leafy home : 



" Deep in the wood the wind-flowers live, 

 Their beauties to the green leaves give ; 

 And with birds the gladness share 

 Of rain, the sunlight, and the air. 



They seek no human aid to bring 

 Stems delicate, to blossoming ; 

 Untold they rise from out the sod, 

 Type of the care that comes from God." 



This Ranunculacex order of plants, of which the anemone 

 or wind-flower is a member, is truly a lovely family, and for 

 the most part blossom in early spring. There is celan- 

 dine to begin with, the crowsfoot and buttercups, the marsh- 

 marigolds, the pheasants'-eyes (Adonis autumnalis) of our 

 cornfields, and the globe-flower (Trollius Europ<eus). 



