The state herald., 1909-08-20
'1zoWS1J ZI1qT 1REN7NE HN0 .s1,,yk::"

Those who only visit the country at
week-ends, or other intervals. cannot
help being struck with the fact that
there is nearly always a dominating
flower; that is to say, one which IN
full bloom takes possession Of the land
scape and attains temporary mastery
over all others. On a comparatively
small but definite scale. this is wit
messed in the garden. This Is DAT
fodil time" we exclaim one day In
our Joy at seeing the ground become
yellow with the bloomc OF this Hover
But in little while I'VE weep to see
you haste away so soon." The life
of a flower has long been used as a
metaphor for all that is most fair
and transient. For little while only
does the fresh purity of the color re-
main Seed-pods are formed. the pet
ais wither. the beauty passes. 1t Is
part of procession, and in the very
act Of breathing a sigh of regret that
what is so fair should be so evanes-
cent, attention is caught by a new set
Of forets that swell out till they oc-
cupy the place OF those that have
faded. The daffodil, either ir the mass
or the individual. possesses kind OF
wistfulness such as might come from
gazing from the outside OF some i'm
passable gate over those tabled plains
whereon the ancient dreamed It grew.
But the tulip when dominant is OF an
opposite character. An embodiment
Of color without fragrance, It COM
bines with the butterfly to show gay
ETY. unmixed with sentiment The daf-
fodil is n romantic maiden. the tulip
a tripping ballet girl. exquisitely
dressed. satisfying the taste for color.
but touching no emotion. How differ
ent with the rose. age cannot wither
nor custom stale her infinite variety"
In the rosary of the rich. in the gar
den plot of the poor. embellishing n
pergola or covering the cottage walls.
It tells the same tale. and suggests
the same old song. "Oh. my luve is
like red. red rose that's newly
sprung in June" Oder and color and
form all unite. and when We speak
of what transcends life. there is no
simile finer than that OF the "unfad-
ing" rose. No wonder that Rosa Nun.
di is n name of highest honor.
Its mention carries us back to the
fields. A garden close is well. but
"a diviner and more pellucid air
hangs over the wild thicket and hedge
row where the dog rosc is In Its glory.
The wind blowing over grass and half.
grown corn when the wild rose is at
its height. dissipates tie garden senti-
ment. II is n dominating flower In
early July. and 80 we appear to be
taking our pageant backward almost.
But. indeed. the best OF n procession
Is not always to be seen from fixed
point. Instead OF watching all the
flowers OF season file past In order.
Ms though they were soldiers ut n re.
view. II Is more interesting TO take
bit here and n bit there according
ms caprice or interest may dictate.
And the wild sweet summer. ms
Wordsworth says. "aaunts" all its
beauty on the wild rose. II bursts out
on the thicket. II takes possession OF
the hedgcrow. Il blossoms on tho
wnste place. likc miliion small
and happy faces It's buds open. TIL the
earth is glowing with their beauty
Yet the fragile bloom will scarcely
bear TO be pluckcd. and Its stay with
us In ns brief M that Of the dnfYodil
But n very little while nni the petals
huttcr down and the rank grass and
summers dark green reassert them
selves.
or Wild Towering shrubs there 4,
none more dominating while II lasts
than the broom. Its rough prcdeces
sor the gorsc. only gives taste oi
the effect II produces. The gorse II
always throwing out blossoms. but
even nt Its best II IN M bronze 10 gold
compared with the great yellow mas
OF tho broom In flower. on the Surrey
commons II makes brave show. hui
In not 80 commanding M ON the grcaI
wastes Of the north. where II rproadl
out into vast stretches OF blazing nnt
shining gold. In tho days OF our you'll
old men remembered. or Of them thcil
fathers had told them. the huge ficldi
OF broom. the bushes Of which wcr,
taller than the tallcst man. tina
stretch over what IL now y cultlvatcs