green leaves that add so much to 

 the beauty and effectiveness of other 

 and statelier blooms. 



In the almanac of flowers written 

 in the garden bed the crocus plays a 

 modest part. But who has not felt 

 a thrill of delight when, on looking 

 from the window some rude March 

 day, a golden spear was discovered 

 thrusting itself courageously through 

 the snow that yet lingered there? 



In the second week of March — 

 yes, even before that — look for the 

 first bees. Not the blundering bum- 

 blebees whose loud hum speaks of 

 summer's warmth, but the slender 

 honeybees, alert and trim, that have 

 already visited the bog for the pollen 

 from the homely skunk-cabbage, and 

 now come to the crocus to rob it of 

 its drops of nectar. 



In almost every garden of New Eng- 

 land you will find that in some sunny 



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