ACCORDING TO SEASON 



Blossom- ing trees. The great shining buds of the balm of 

 mg trees QH ea( j at last shake out their long tassels. The 

 upper gold-tinged branches of the white poplar 

 give a misty effect, which a careful inspection 

 discovers to be due to a host of downy, close- 

 set catkins. The elms and maples let out tiny 

 clusters of red and yellow flowers — flowers so 

 minute and comparatively insignificant that if one 

 is caught, standing motionless, with head flung 

 back, and eyes upraised, and is able to account 

 for his apparently absurd attitude only by the ex- 

 planation that, Japanese-like, he is " viewing the 

 blossoms," the chances are strong in favor of his 

 being esteemed a harmless lunatic. 



Another season-sign is afforded by the flower- 

 beds in these same squares. As soon as the frost 

 is fairly out of the ground, the needle-like tips of 

 p. _ the crocus appear. This plant is followed by 

 beds tulip, hyacinth, and daffodil. But before they 



have time to blossom, the vases that front the 

 clubs and restaurants are filled with deep-hued 

 pansies and English daisies, the latter the culti- 

 vated variety of Burns's. 



" Wee, modest, crimson-tippit flower." 



Florists' The florists' windows yield a veritable feast 



of form and color. Even more of a delight are 

 the street flower-stands, and the moving gardens 



32 



