The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-07
SOUTHERN SPRING.
Times.Democrat.

The prettlest bit of descriptive writ ing credited to George Cable was a rapturous eulogy, some years ago, of Louisiana's loveliness during the gen. tie month of March. Ardently and with genuine enthusiasm he wrote of this southern spring as she appears at birth on the lower Mississippi banks. Not shy and cool, as in northern lati- tudes, peering timidly through the frosty vails with which winter strives to hold up and blind her rival. The supreme event is in no way foreshad- owed here, but splendid, radiant and luxuriant, matured and crowned with royal weight of flowers, she appears in beauty sufficient even to have com- forted Eve for her lost Eden. The sweet and gracious season knows no reserves, the sap stirs and quickens fast in every living thing thrilled by the hot glances of mighty sun, and before one is aware, behold, all has started into responsive being waken- ing at once whole world of dazzling verdure.
 Familiar as dwellers in this delecta- ble country are with the superior ex- cellencies of their state, it's merits are heightened by contrast, and notably enhanced at this present moment. While vast districts of the frozen north lie in helpless petrifaction under dreary, pallid acres of ice, the heaviest snowstorms from which this region has suffered are pcrfumed showers of orange petals amorous gales are sitting down on the springing turf Men have stood aghast for the past ten days marveling, with bated breath, over the stories of the fierce, wild weather that has ragged in the east; of sting ing, freezing pail that has bound the entire district in rigorous bands, while all the while, few hundred miles away, roses have bloomed as though the days were made up o1 one long and endless June. These two might be separate worlds, instead of merely divisions of the same land, SO entirely different are climatic codes governing them. The winter in Louisiana. just gone by, has been dignitied by its proper title simply by courtesy, for the pleasant months succeeding each other might have served every one as fitting introductions to the temperate summer itself.
 Conservatory doors are all standing wide open, the glass houses they shield being utterly deserted. Geraniums, peligoniums, fuschias, with the fragile family of tender exotics, are no longer in need of artificial heat. The length ening days are full of genial sunshine, as the starlit nights accompanying them arc of warm and heavy dews Every morning that dawns gives birth to million buds; the close of evening kisses with it's leaves half unfolded. Nature is reveling in limitless wealth of floral lovcliness very extravaganza of flowers that would intoxicate those unaccustomed to the profusion of the place. The slenderest rose vines, as well as the lowest shrubs, have put forth masses of blossoms they cast only to produce fresher and fairer crop. Wherever the slightest chance is offered the La Marque has climbed ambitiously as the fabulous bean stalk, and is studded with hundreds of wide, round flowers and long pointed buds of pale green and the purest white.
 It would be idle to attempt to name the roses now in bloom, for there is no single variety that cannot be found between the Circle and Carrollton, and if by chance this assertion should be nasty, it is qualified by including Esnl onaHo Of roat in tho .l From the absurdly small Richardson rose of a ruddy gold with close shut flowers, to the aristocratic Brabant, always lovely and sensitive in it's air as some languid lady, the coarser Nal maison and fiery Jacques, all are glorifying the gardens now. Some of the handsomest homes on the avenue are perfect bouquets of color, with beds of purple heliotrope, others of yellow jonquils, plats starred by hosts ot English daisies, borders fringed with violets and hyacinths, while high over all blooms the cloud like wisteria that hangs in soft masses of lilac fragrance and beauty.
 There are few lawns that cannot show one or more orange trees, and these are still freighted with their ex- quisite blossoms. It seems strange that any one owning such treasure should be reckless enough to lose one of the precious petals, for sheet spread beneath it's branches would save honeyed flowers that make the most delicious drink and confection imag- inable. The very atmosphere bearing their perfume is soothing and has a pleasant dreamy effect on ones nerves. Gardeners are at work in all direc- tions planting variegated verbenas, caladiums, cholius and begonias in the wide ribbon borders with which they bound the close shaved sward. Fancy beds cut in all manner of quaint and 1 curiOus fashions hava laid asida a,,or,r