forward to the arrival of the catalogues from seeds- 

 men and rosarians, then the search for novelties 

 begins, the glad renewal of acquaintance with beloved 

 old flower friends, and the ever new delight in the 

 never varying pictures. 



Then, although the gardening hands will perhaps 

 be folded for a time, losing their freckles, tan and 

 callous spots, the gardening brain is working harder 

 than ever, planning the spring campaign of beauty; 

 dreaming at night of the fall planted bulbs ; forswear- 

 ing during the day the dress planned for Easter, that 

 one may purchase those marvelous azaleas which 

 smile from the cover of a particularly enticing new 

 catalogue. 



So the season merges from one dream to another, 

 an endless circle of hope and work, always garlanded 

 with blossoms, which only bloom the more in the 

 mind's eye when the trees bow earthward with snow 

 and the plant children lie tucked in their white beds, 

 perhaps dreaming as we dream of the great Spring 

 Pantomime. 



182 



