In the Blink of an Eye

Ever wonder how one day in late March or early April, the landscape suddenly seems to transform from it's cold, gray, skeletal structure into a colorful, lush paradise, in what seems like the blink of an eye?  I am constantly amazed by the magic of nature, and how year after year it is able to produce so much life and growth out of nothing in an instant.  There is so much going on while these plants are dormant, so much that we don't see.

In the distance, a lime green haze is forming on the trees in my neighborhood.  This is the moment that I look forward to most in spring (despite the allergies), because I know that soon the trees will be full of bright green leaves and the air will be getting warmer. With this moment of transformation in mind, I have decided this year, to pay particular attention to the way that these familiar plants and flowers emerge, some poking though the soil, and others leafing out on what seem like dead, lifeless branches.

As I observe these plants undergo their yearly transformation, I am hoping to learn more about them, and about the nature of growth and life itself. 

I started thinking about this about two weeks ago, when I first started my spring clean-up in my yard.  I was walking past a lilac that I've kept in a pot for 8 years, when I noticed small clusters of tiny buds.  I took a small sucker from another, more mature lilac 8 years ago, intending to plant it in my then, new yard.  As the years passed, I watched this little plant grow bigger and bigger, becoming full of green leaves, but never blooming.  I repotted it over and over again but eventually figured that I would have to plant in the ground it for it to bloom.

When I noticed the bud clusters, all over the plant, a giant smile came across my face, I wanted to scream out and jump up and down with joy.  The excitement of seeing these little clusters was as if someone told me that I had just won the lottery.  There is something in this discovery, watching this process of growth, that gives me such a rush of adrenaline.

A few days later, the bud clusters extended into full lilac blooms waiting to open.  I can hardly wait!

Here are a few others....

 Peony.

 Sedum.

 Hydrangea.

 Hosta.

Tulip Magnolia.

 Peas.

And the tulips of course.  They are late to bloom this year, but seemed to suddenly emerge from the ground with bright orange, red, and yellow blooms.

Last fall, I picked up a pack of daffodils at the hardware store, making an effort to fill my backyard with them.  I have had a couple that bloom, here and there, but have never a real attempt to plant them.  I prefer the less traditional varieties, and picked these up.  To my surprise, these are rather unique little daffodils with tremendous personality.  They have multiple creamy white bblooms branching off of one stem, causing the flowers to turn downward.  They look shy and bashful.

I plan to continue my observations as spring marches forward.  Stay tuned.