CHAPTER VI 



IN LILAC TIDE 



" Ere Man is aware 

 That the Spring is here 

 The Flowers have found it out." 



— Ancient Chinese Saying. 



FLOWER opens, and lo! another 

 Year," is the beautiful and sug- 

 gestive legend on an old vessel 

 found in the Catacombs. Since 

 these words were written, how 

 many years have begun ! how many flowers have 

 opened ! and yet nature has never let us weary 

 of spring and spring flowers. My garden knows 

 well the time o' the year. It needs no almanac to 

 count the months. 



"The untaught Spring is wise 

 In Cowslips and Anemonies." 



While I sit shivering, idling, wondering when I 

 can " start the garden " — lo, there are Snowdrops 

 and spring starting up to greet me. 



Ever in earliest spring are there days when there 

 is no green in grass, tree, or shrub ; but when the 

 garden lover is conscious that winter is gone and 

 spring is waiting. There is in every garden, in every 



I.?2 



