The last few weeks have brought a world of differences to many of us — a new physical view from the inside looking out; a new vocabulary that includes medical terms of pandemics, viruses, curves, ventilators, and COVID-19; an appreciation for things that previously we’d taken for granted; and a feeling that the world’s turned upside down. With the barrage of news and seemingly constant updates it’s hard to look too far forward. Like many, I’m trying to take things one day at a time. Today the sun is shining and there are signs of spring outside my windows. The birds are migrating back into our area and their calling hangs in the air. There are people walking in the neighborhood and soaking up the sun’s warmth. There’s a young girl that’s riding her small bike next to her dad who is running; they’re chatting and singing as they go by. Sometime ahead the tulips will be blooming here in Minnesota. Somewhere ahead, the struggling and the uncertainty we’re dealing with now will be behind us. Somewhere ahead I’m hoping we will have learned lessons from this time; perhaps we’ll appreciate the beauty all around us – in nature, in family, and the people we interact with. And somewhere ahead I’m hoping our world will no longer seem to be upside down, but instead will be more kind.
tulips
Yellow is a lovely sign of spring
Our landscape has been white for so very long that a bright burst of yellow is a true signal of spring. I spent some time at the McNeely Conservatory where it is spring, under glass. Yellow and red tulips, ranunculus, crocus, and daffodils are wonderful (and needed) reminders of the season of spring. These yellow tulips were set off by the blue reflection of the sky in the water behind them. Soon enough we will have spring outside too, and not need to go inside to experience it.
A sea of tulips
Spring is here and our weather warmed up quickly to hearken all the flowers into bloom. The garden beds are filled with daffodils and tulips, and the red bud trees have added their color too. It’s a beautiful time to wonder at the multitude of colors that now surround us.
And on Mother’s Day, a special thank you to mothers everywhere. Although my mother passed away four years ago, I still think of her everyday and appreciate all the lessons I learned from her. Take a moment and thank those mothers that are near and dear to you.
Tulip time!
It’s tulip time – perhaps in the temperate Skagit Valley of Washington, or in the states to the south of me. But in Minnesota the ground has just thawed and there hasn’t been enough warmth for any bulbs to force through the still cool soil. Yet with the help of a nearby florist, we can enjoy the scents and colors of the spring to come. These tulips have brightened my world every day this past week and given me the promise of spring – perhaps just around the corner.
The return of spring
Finally! The colors of spring have returned to our Minnesota landscape. The white of winter gave way to the brown, prior to the green of spring. And now the flowers have burst into bloom, adding their yellows and pinks. Not only has the landscape brightened, but peoples’ moods have been buoyed by the bright colors too. A bed of daffodils was showcased in front of a showy field of tulips — the best of spring all in one spot, and all blooming at the same time. When I was a child, we would make “baskets” out of colored construction paper, put flowers in them, and hang them on the doors of our neighbors to celebrate May Day. I’m intending this post as the present-day equivalent to my readers. Happy May and spring!
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