FEBRUARY 45 



day of bright, warm sunshine of a week ago, they were 

 suddenly covered with the sparkling crystals of the frost. 

 Undismayed, they will brave it and grow still more buxom 

 with the sunshine of the next warm day ! 



It is violet-time in sheltered corners of the garden, but not 

 yet has this sweetest of spring flowers put forth its blossoms 

 in its native place the woods and hedgerow banks. Very 

 soon we shall see them there, or, unseen, catch their perfume 

 upon the breeze. Under the hedges is waiting to be awakened 

 one of the loveliest of our wild climbers, the white bryony 

 (Bryonia dioica). " All winter, the mystic root [of the bryony] 

 lies hidden, awaiting its appointed time," says E. V. B. in one 

 of her delightful books. " On a day in spring suddenly up 

 springs a group of delicate green stalks, and they, as soon as 

 they have seen the sun in heaven, delay not to put forth all 

 the strength stored under the ground in the big, ugly root." 



Already the marsh-marigold is preparing to light the sides 

 of the stream with its golden chalice, which blossom has for 

 its name " King-cup " and " Golden-loves." It is this and 

 many another yellow blossom the lesser celandine, the cow- 

 slip that greet the coming time, the sweetest of the year, 



" When sweet-breathing Spring unfolds the bud/' 



