SPRING IS HERE!

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

SPRING IS HERE!

Once again the schools liavo closed for tho holidays, and wo realiso that winter is over and spring is here. In almost every direction in which I look blossom-covered wattlo trees show up plainly. And how beautiful tho flowers are! Thousands of fluffy yellow balls, each most exquisitely formed, clustering together along tho stem, among tho green leaves, screen the sun from country roads, and throw flecked shadows across them.

A fow weeks ago tho willows looked bare and grey, but a transformation has now taken place. They arc covered in soft, green, leaves, which contrast beautifully with the more sombre green of the evergreen trees.

The gardens are gay with spring flowers. The snow-flakes are blooming. The violet seems to hide with leaves its (lowers as the gay, golden daffodil Haunts itself before one's eyes. Listen for a moment! The merry song of the birds breaks the silence. In the winter the few birds that were to be seen flew hurriedly about. Food was hard to find; they had no time to sing. Now they fly about more leisurely or dart down and settle on a twig, then, having sung their jubilant song, they zig-zag up into air once more, now descending, now ascending. Soon nestbuilding will begin, but at present they are free to pursue pleasure. To gild refined gold, to paint the lily To throw a perfume on the violet. To smooth tiir ice, or add another hue Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light, To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish. Is v.-; t'ul and ridiculous excess.

No one can make anything so wonderful as flie 111 inus of nature. Nature\s .spring-!iine gifts arc perfect and truly " perfection needs no addition." From Pearl Herbert, (ugu !.">), Bethlehem, Tauraiiga.