Evening star., 1933-03-23
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEWELL.

one!" Nature does not work 30 singly
as that. nor does she do things SO all
OLA a-sudden.
Her method is q gradual change, in
such matters, so slow that it is i'm
possible to see the grass grow, or even
the flower buds to unfold. The number
of flowers which one can catch actually
in the process Of unfolding their petals
is very few, indeed.
What one can do, however. is note
the changes appearing overnight on al
most any morning now. One will not
be able to point out any particular
change, perhaps, with the exception OF
some such thing as a Towering shrub.
but the observer will be able to see
distinct difference, just the same, an
appearance which was not there in the
evening.
Happily there will be no one there
screaming Prove it," Nature func-
tions without the necessity for proof
She Is her own proof, her own justin
cation, her own reason for being.
Back Of her very few have succeeded
In going very far; most human beings
only are able to accept Nature. Per-
haps that is enough for the time being
Maybe the truth of her outward man
ifestations would be more than We
could bear to know with complete
knowledge. For there Is q knowledge
which is incomplete, but which Is
knowledge nevertheless.
This is the little knowledge which
every lover Of the Spring possesses.
Fer many years 1t was popular to at
tempt the expression In verse, as If
by some magic rhyme better fitted
the spirit Of the season than prose.
E1op tAIy t.A nal
poet" has seen better days. He no
season in song; If he exists at all, he
carefully keeps his identity secret.
The truth is that the little girl who
spoke Of "exstacises' when she meant
exercises, was looking at the world
from the viewpoint Of the home gar
dener.
Spring, today, in this very modern
age. means more exercise than ecstasy.
The poets long ago put on paper about
all that can be said about it.
Now one wants to 60 out into the
garden, when the sun warns up a bit,
one desires to play l8 holes of golf, or
roll the tennis court, after the rains.
There is heavy roller to be pushed
on the court. and there is nothing to
be done but push it, On the links one
must knock ball around, and walk
after 1t.
But in the garden, praise be, one may
do a great deal Of standing and looking.
Every one knows how it is.
Much gazing must precede action. as
II somehow 1t were necessary to look
a very long while at given spot before
one is able to viZualize it as it should
be and probably will be some day.
Some gardeners never acquire this
uncanny ability. to pose before a bush,
that isn't there. as women do in front
Of mirror
1t is safe to say, however, that it
Is an requirement which adds i'm
mensely to the joy of living, this thing
Of standing in the garden at this time
Of the year, sagaciously gazing for
minutes at a time at certain spot,
where one hopes to see a new lilac, or
some other sort Of shrub, bush, plant,
or any other matter
The new shrub is not something to
be dismissed lightly. Whatever it is
going to be. 1t must be a good specimen
Did nature not take at least two or
three years to grow 1t on (as the
horticulturists insist on saying?
Earthquake and flood one place,
Spring rains another Shall we felicitate
ourselves, or, more humbly and properly,
thank God for garden, as the song
said?