33 8 Old Time Gardens 



transplanted, yet all flourish ; I suppose some plants 

 must be pulled up, sometimes, else the garden would 

 be a thicket. The varying grading of city streets 

 has left this garden in a little valley sheltered from 

 winds and open to the sun's rays. Here bloom 

 Crocuses, Snowdrops, Grape Hyacinths, and some- 

 times Tulips, before any neighbor has a blossom 

 and scarce a leaf. On a Sunday noon in April there 

 are always flower lovers hanging over the low fences, 

 and gazing at the welcome early blooms. Here if 



ever 



" Winter, slumbering in the open air, 



Wears on his smiling face a dream of spring." 



A close cloud of Box-scent hangs over this garden, 

 even in midwinter ; sometimes the Box edgings 

 grow until no one can walk between ; then drastic 

 measures have to be taken, and the rows look 

 ragged for a time. 



I think much of my love of Box comes from 

 happy associations with this garden. I used to like 

 to go there with my mother when she went on 

 what the Japanese would call " garden-viewing " 

 visits, for at the lower end of the garden was a small 

 orchard of the finest playhouse Apple trees I ever 

 climbed (and I have had much experience), and 

 some large trees bearing little globular early Pears ; 

 and there were rows of bushes of golden " Honey- 

 blob " Gooseberries. The Apple trees are there 

 still, but the Gooseberry bushes are gone. I 

 looked for them this summer eagerly, but in vain ; 

 I presume the berries would have been sour had I 

 found them. 



