Spring’s Blessings

Spring’s blessings are here, asking to be noticed.

Days of continuous rain have (dare I say?) stopped and the sun is out.

“In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.” ~Mark Twa

 

Mark has captured two swarms this spring. The healthiest colonies we’ve got are from swarms.

“There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance.” ~Henry David Thoreau

 

Seeds we planted in the last days of March burst into life under grow lights, graduated to window views, and are being tucked gently into the garden. Seeds planted outside in the cold soil are now cheerfully competing with weeds, rabbits, and human hands.

“Spring drew on…and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps.” Charlotte Bronte

 

We’ve planted quite a few fruit trees this spring including apple, cherry, pear, and peach.

“For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.” ~Martin Luther

 

We enjoy the pleasure of spotting all sorts of wildlife in and around the pond including snapping turtles, herons, and grebes.

“Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual astonishment.” ~Ellis Peters

 

And just a few days ago, Mark noticed these northern water snakes engaged in what’s politely termed a “breeding ball.” Sweet reptile love!

“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” ~Khalil Gibran

 

Out back, we’re inoculating logs with shiitake, turkey tail, and oyster mushroom spores.

“The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.” ~Edwin Way Teale

 

Bird books don’t have a name for this unusual species but we know for sure this is a sighting of the Red-Capped Olivia.

“She decided to free herself, dance into the wind, create a new language. And birds fluttered around her, writing “yes” in the sky.” ― Monique Duval

 

These lilies of the valley are one of my favorite flowers. That they were transplanted from my parent’s yard make them even more special.

“It always amazes me to look at the little, wrinkled brown seeds and think of the rainbows in ’em,” said Captain Jim. “When I ponder on them seeds I don’t find it nowise hard to believe that we’ve got souls that’ll live in other worlds. You couldn’t hardly believe there was life in them tiny things, some no bigger than grains of dust, let alone colour and scent, if you hadn’t seen the miracle, could you?” ~L. M. Montgomery

 

We’re seeing beauty everywhere, like this hill of dandelions. (They’re magic — just ask any child.)

“Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child who knows poems.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke

 

 

The true blessing for our family this spring is that our oldest son has come through emergency brain surgery and in the process of recovering. Time for a deep breath, deep appreciation, and paying attention to all we cherish.

“The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.” ~Harriet Ann Jacobs