The Flowers of Early Spring 



have got through the worst part of the winter, and 

 February is altogether a delightful month in the 

 garden. Of course, he may have frosts, even 

 destructive frosts ; but frosts are not altogether 

 bad either for the garden or the gardener. I am 

 quite sure that for English gardens what Coleridge 

 calls " the secret ministry of frost," is a ministry 

 that cannot be spared ; and for the gardener it 

 is a ministry that teaches patience and watchful 

 carefulness. " Gaudet patientia duris," says 

 Lucretius ; and he is but a foolish gardener who 

 is always expecting losses instead of hoping for 

 successes. The losses may come, to some extent 

 they certainly will come, but the advice of the 

 elder brother in " Comus " is the truer wisdom 



" Brother, be not over exquisite 

 To cast the fashion of uncertain evils ; 

 For grant they be so, while they rest unknown, 

 What need a man forestall his date of grief, 

 And run to meet what he would most avoid ? 

 Or if they be but false alarms of fear, 

 How bitter is such self-delusion ! " 



