Evening star., 1932-04-22

The adornment of a great city and
the entire countryside in the verdure
of Spring is an annual event keenly
watched by home gardeners.
They see this interesting proceeding
with sharpened eyesight, because they
have become accustomed to watching
it in miniature in their own yards.
To them the gradual greening of
trees and shrubs and grass and plants
Is something more than subject for
casual admiration or occasional COM
ment.
To them Springs awakening is
interest and beauty, with. perhaps, a
touch Of comedy or tragedy, even, at
times.
Nothing is too small to be noted,
and no effect too great to be loved.
Even the slightest interest in garden
ing puts one in a better position to ap-
preciate what is going on now through
out the city and country.
Observation!
1t is not the easiest task in the
world, although many think they OBJ
serve when they do not.
It is not so much a matter of eye
sight, after all, as OF intelligent look
ing. knowing what to look for. and
how to see 1t.
Many honest people are not born
gardeners. although they may work up
considerable interest in the subject.
They find it takes many months,
even years, for them to know the diff
ference between leaf buds and flower
buds, to be able to tell privet from
which is called woodbine in some sec
tions, and to distinguish poison ivy
from Virginia creeper
Consistent observation is sign of
the inquiring mind, and this, in turn,
means intelligent curiosity. To the
man or woman who becomes interested
in the growing things of field and
wood and cultivated garden whole
new world is opened up.
Some of the most pleasant avenues
this attitude leads into are simply
these of city streets and boulevards
One is never too busy, while going
around town, to watch for the red
shoots of the peonie~ coming up.
The practiced obse'2er will note. in
a patch of soil, certsth small red tips,
barely above the esrt.1. Just how these
delicate bits Of vegetable matter man
age to push their way up through the
O1ten cruSteO SOIL Is anyways souA &c
of wonder.
Yet they do it, cracking the earth,
no matter how baked it may be. In
themselves they are tender, fragile, but
the force behind them is that OF the
earth itself.
Life pulsates in them, even as 1t
does in mankind. 1t is different
sort of life, of course, but the same
wonder and mystery is in it.
The observer of Springtime may
never say word as he passes down
street with a friend, but he is busy
all the time seeing something which
the other does not see.
Those peony sprouts, for instance.
The very first attempt of Washing
tons many trees to put on their leaves
for a new season is watched eagerly.
The thing is almost beyond belief.
Maybe the trees won't do 1t this
year!
Such is the unspoken doubt of the
observer, as he looks at some tall vet
eran, its gnarled limbs utterly hfeless.
Lifeless in seeming only, however,
for within them the force that wields
the stars is going to work on nothing
larger than leaf buds
From the ground 1t Is impossible to
see them. those tiny swellings, but
within the week-in some cases over
night-they become perfectly visible in
the form Of a green mantle over the
entire tree.
This is that great magician. Mother
Nature, in action. Talk about making
rabbits appear out OF silk hats!