20 THE GARDEN OF EARTH 



it to be the only object of their existence. If it were, 

 we might well wonder why they should be so lovely as 

 they are, when little plain green blossoms could produce 

 seeds just as well as beautiful and gorgeous ones. Many 

 large trees have plain green flowers ; and they carry on 

 their task of seed-manufacturing most successfully. 



True, a definite reason is known for the bright colours 

 of flowers, as we shall find later. They are believed to 

 act as a lure to insects, thus inducing them to do what 

 is a very important piece of work in connection with the 

 growth of plants. 



But this does not cover the whole question. 

 May we not confidently believe that, when Our Father 

 in Heaven caused all these lovely forms and radiant 

 colours to spring forth, He had a loving thought for us, 

 and that He meant them to be a delight to His children 

 who were to inhabit this Earth ? 



We know well the words spoken by Our Lord, Who 

 Himself loved flowers, when He told His followers to 

 " Consider the Lilies of the field, how they grow," 

 adding that " Even Solomon in all his glory was not 

 arrayed like one of these." 



What an utterly different world ours would be, if 

 no blue and crimson, no golden or pure white blossoms 

 grew anywhere; no Roses, Pinks, Primroses; nothing 

 but small insignificant seed-makers. We can hardly 

 picture to ourselves such conditions. 



Perhaps nothing speaks to us more plainly of the 

 kindness of Our Father than the care He has taken to 

 provide us with beautiful sights for our enjoyment. 

 Just as nothing tells us more clearly of the love for 

 beauty in the Divine Mind than do the flowers of earth 



