【英语时差8,16】冬乌

Even on cold grey days this time of year, the earth, as if suddenly tired of being barren, is sending us messages. If you see patches of acid yellow flowers, single flowers on short stems almost hugging the ground, they are winter aconite. These seem to appear at winter’s first thaw¹, and have a ruff of dainty green leaves beneath each buttercup flower. Botanically, they are members of the genus “Eranthis”, Greek for spring flower.The bulbs should be planted as early as possible in the fall, in groups in light shade in well-drained soil. They like moisture, and will spread if undisturbed. Often seen in older gardens, they make us think of the gardener who planted, probably just a few bulbs, one autumn day long ago and left a legacy² of gold. These miniature flowers, singly or en masse, perform each year for only a fleeting³ moment it is true, but the continuity and the recurrence⁴ of their performance year after year delights a succession of passers-by.

    Next fall, put some aconite bulbs in your garden and accumulate some gold that is priceless. Susan Hall, in her book “Through the Garden Gate” must have been thinking on such things when she wrote, “Of all human activities, apart from the procreation of children, gardening is the most optimistic and hopeful. The gardener is by definition one who plans for and believes and trusts in a future, whether in the short or the longer term.”

1 thaw   

v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和

参考例句：

• The snow is beginning to thaw.雪已开始融化。
• The spring thaw caused heavy flooding.春天解冻引起了洪水泛滥。

2 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

3 fleeting   

adj.短暂的，飞逝的

参考例句：

• The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
• Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝，于是让自已尽情地享受。

4 recurrence   

n.复发，反复，重现

参考例句：

• More care in the future will prevent recurrence of the mistake.将来的小心可防止错误的重现。
• He was aware of the possibility of a recurrence of his illness.他知道他的病有可能复发。