CHAPTER II 



Hybrid Hellebores Crocus Snowdrop Snowflake 

 Early flowering shrubs. 



THE month of February has a very doubtful character. 

 ' In February the sun enters Aquarius,' is the record 

 of the almanacks, and so Spenser describes 'cold 

 February ' sitting 



' In an old wagon, for he could not xide, 

 Drawne of two fishes for the season fitting, 

 Which through the flood before did softly glide, 

 And swim alway.' 



It was 'February fill-ditch,' and Don Pedro laughs 

 at Benedick for having * such a February face, so full 

 of frost and storm and cloudiness.' But it is not 

 always so ; and when we do get a mild February it is 

 a most enjoyable month, especially to the gardener. 



The flowers which I recorded last month are still 

 in full beauty, the cyclamen and the hellebores not, 

 however, the true Christmas rose, which has passed 

 away, but many of the other species, and especially 



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