little Hypoxis stellata, var. elegans, whose gleaming white stars 

 show peacock patterns in the centre. Now there are butterfly 

 moreas (Moraea papilio\ six inches high, in shades of salmon- 

 pink, terra-cotta and lemon. There are sundews with big lilac- 

 coloured blooms and blue lachenalias (L,. unifolid) under the 

 oak trees ; but the best find of all was Cleanthe bicolor (now 

 classed as siristea\ growing in big clumps and just opening 

 its pale blue flowers enough to show the heavy black centres. 

 I had this plant years ago and lost it. It is somewhat tempera- 

 mental, and my garden is too wet for it. Now I hope to collect 

 seeds and start again. A big patch of Monsonia flowers were 

 out before the ones I have growing in the garden, and now the 

 kalkoentjies (Gladiolus alatus} are popping up here and there. 

 This district used to have them in quantities along the roadsides 

 in the corners of orchards and vineyards, and where the veld 

 was still untouched. But the plough, veld fires, erosion in the 

 winter storms, and wholesale picking for sale have done their 

 worst ; and now the kalkoentjie is seldom seen. Surely man is 

 the most destructive animal on earth, and destroyers are so 

 many and preservers so few. 



And now we realize that the year has come full cycle. Every 

 spring the feeling of urgency and expectancy is there, and we 

 stand awaiting the opening of the gate into fairyland. Any- 

 thing may happen, any treasure turn up. Let us forget the 

 storms and troubles 



For winter's rains and ruins are over 

 And all the season of snows and sins, . . . 

 And frosts are slain and flowers begotten, 

 And in green underwood and cover 

 Blossom by blossom the spring begins. 



