In Lilac Tide 139 



" The green is good for us, and we welcome it with 

 uncritical gladness ; but when we think of painting, 

 it may be doubted whether any season of the year is 

 less propitious to the broad and noble harmonies 

 which are the secrets of all grand effects in art." 

 And he compares the season to the uncomfortable 

 hour in a household when the early risers are walk- 

 ing about, not knowing what to do with themselves, 

 while others have not yet come down to breakfast. 



I must confess that an undiversified country land- 

 scape in spring has upon me the effect asserted by 

 Hamerton. I recall one early spring week in the 

 Catskills, when I fairly complained, " Everything is 

 so green here." I longed for rocks, water, burnt 

 fields, bare trees, anything to break that glimmering 

 green of new grass and new Birches. But in the 

 spring garden there is variety of shape and color ; 

 the Peony leaf buds are red, some sprouting leaves 

 are pink, and there are vast varieties of brown and 

 gray and gold in leaf. 



Let me give the procession of spring in the gar- 

 den in the words of a lover of old New England 

 flowers, Dr. Holmes. It is a vivid word picture of 

 the distinctive forms and colors of budding flowers 

 and leaves. 



" At first the snowdrop's bells are seen, 



Then close against the sheltering wall 

 The tulip's horn of dusky green, 

 The peony's dark unfolding ball. 



" The golden-chaliced crocus burns ; 

 The long narcissus blades appear ; 



