April and Early May 



lows is the spice -bush, bearing on its 

 leafless stems close little bunches of pale 

 yellow blossoms which yield an aromatic, 

 faintly penetrating fragrance. 



The swamp maple has long been noted 

 for the brilliancy with which it lights the 

 borders of the autumn woods, edging the 

 forest with a flame which daily creeps 

 farther and fardier into its midst. It 

 is almost equally noteworthy in April, 

 when from its bare branches burst small 

 clusters of scarlet flowers which show viv- 

 idly against the cold blue of the spring 

 skies ; and which later, as I remember 

 one year, may fall, like a shower of 

 blood, upon smooth sheets of late snow ; 

 snow which, as it melts, gently uncovers 

 to the sun blue patches of violets. There 

 is a wonderful enchantment about these 

 surprises of the young year. For they 

 are always surprises, never mind how 

 often we have experienced them or how 

 unfailingly we await them. The aroma 



