The Yellow Crocus 



by that glowing patch, its warm heart 

 open to the sun, and dear to the honey- 

 gathering bees which hum around the 

 chalices. 



This is one of the many plants which 

 are spoilt by too much meddling. If the 

 gardener too frequently separates the off- 

 sets, the individual blooms may possibly 

 be finer, but the lover of flowers will miss 

 the most striking charms of the humbler 

 and more neglected plant. The reason is 

 this : the bloom, when first opening, is of 

 a deeper orange than afterwards, and this 

 depth of hue is seemingly increased when 

 the blossoms are small from crowded 

 growth. In these little clusters, there- 

 fore, where the flowers are of various 

 sizes, the colour gains in variety and 

 depth, as well as in extent of surface, 

 and vividness of colour is the most im- 

 portant point in the expression of the 

 Yellow Crocus. 



I have called the Crocus poSoSaKTvXoi 

 'Ho)f, and the expression has an additional 

 meaning if we look upon the flower some 

 morning of gleaming doubtful sunshine, 

 when it is uncertain whether to expand or 

 no. Perhaps the folded petal reveals a 

 glimpse of the deeper orange within, and 

 at times you see playing over the outer 

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