APRIL 
     
    
   
   
    
     April comes with cheeks a—glowing, 
     
     Silver streams are all a—flowing, 
     
     Flowers open wide their eyes 
     
    

    
     In a rapturous surprise. 
     
    

    
     Lilies dream beside the brooks, 
     
     Violets in meadow nooks, 
     
    

    
     And the birds gone wild with glee, 
     
     Fill the woods with melody. 
     
    

    
     Winds are soft and fields are fair, 
     
     Blue the sky and sweet the air. 
     
     And the happy, blushing earth 
     
     Laughs at every flower's birth. 
     
     Golden days and silver nights, 
     
     Hours brim with calm delights, 
     
     Lilies chime and blue bells ring, 
     
     "Welcome, welcome to the Spring." 
     
    
   
   
    
     Helen Steiner Rice 
     
    
   
   
    
     NATURAL BEAUTY CCMPETITION 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     by Vera Beck, Montague, P.E.I. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Natural Beauty and Preservation Competition of the Rural Beautification Society 
     
    
   
   
    
     Program is growing by leaps and bounds. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Last year the number of entries was 
     
    
   
   
    
     almost doubled from the year before, and there were competitors from all areas 
     
    
   
   
    
     . of the Isl and. 
     
    
   
   
    
     We know that many Natural 
     
    
   
   
    
     History Socier 
     
    
   
   
    
     members would enjoy entering this 
     
    
   
   
    
     competition, and we are pleased to note that it is members of the Natural History 
     
     Society who generously donate the beautiful awards. 
     
    
   
   
    
     These are the rules of the game: 
     
    
   
   
    
     This is a competition for those who love the unique quality of the natural beauty 
     
    
   
   
    
     of Prince Edward Island. 
     
     as well as rural area residents. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Properties can be adapted to the natural setting. 
     
    
   
   
    
     It is a province-wide competition open to all towns 
     
    
   
   
    
     Variety, irregularity, curves 
     
    
   
   
    
     and slopes create a more natural appearance than the measured, stiff style of 
     
    
   
   
    
     the conventional landscaping. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Hedge rows of many varieties of flowering shrubs 
     
    
   
   
    
     and small trees, in contrast to the uniform clipped evergreen hedge, and trees 
     
     that vary in height and shape, add beauty and provide habitat for song birds and 
     
    
   
   
    
     other wild creatures. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The awards will be offered in 1980 through the generosity of Dr. and Mrs. J. p. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Lantz and Mr. and Mrs. Allison West. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The awards will be made on the basis of 
     
    
   
   
    
     the improvement in the beautification of the property in relation to the natural 
     
     surroundings, with careful consideration having been given to sound principles 
     
     of conservation of the environment. 
     
    
   
   
    
     When in the opinion of the judges, a contestant entered in another contest meets 
     
    
   
   
    
     the qualifications for the above 
     
    
   
   
    
     the contestant will be entered in the 
     
    
   
   
    
     Natural Beauty competition for judging. 
     
    
   
   
    
     For entry forms please write to: 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Secretary 
     
    

    
     P.E.I. Rural Beautification Society 
     
     P.O. Box 1194 
     
    

    
     Charlottetown, P.E.I.