“In June as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day. No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore all of them.” ~Aldo Leopold
Mr. Leopold obviously did not live in South Carolina. I feel that way right now, actually, and it’s only barely April. I want to see and smell and touch everything all at once, and yet I also have the desire to lie lazily under a tree contemplating the beauty of a few unfolding leaflets at length, with the only interruptions a friendly grasshopper, a busy brown thrasher, and some curious kitties come to purr on my chest. Which I would probably be doing today, since it’s finally cooled off a bit… except that the pollen is excessive, enough to discomfit me and I’m not even a serious seasonal allergy sufferer. (Sending all serious sufferers in the South today a generous dose of sympathy.) Instead, I am spending this day with one eye trained on the promise of the clouds, longing for a soft rain to wash away the sulfurous dust that coats every surface.
It’s physically impossible to keep up with all of these amazing — yet totally ordinary — anniversaries and births, of course. Just take a moment with me to step back from that glorious, glowing, low-hanging bud and baby leaves of the tulip tree, shown above, to a slightly wider view of a few more flowers on that same tree.
And just a few of its branches.
And then glance directly up at the sky — as seen through spring tulip tree.
This is only one tree among the hundreds I encountered this week. I realize I do spend more time among the trees than the average Josephine, living as I do surrounded by forests, and making regular trips to the Botanical Gardens and the lake and the local parks. But I wouldn’t trade with anyone right now. It feels like Nature is just showing off in this season of bounty and beauty, and sometimes I fancy that individual vignettes of her show are just for me, in that moment, made to communicate directly to my heart that all is well, that trust in the process of life is justified, that hope is as natural as the bright green glow of the newborn season.
One anniversary that is especially poignant and must be marked for me every year is the blooming of the dogwoods. I’ve seen some that are already in full bloom, but the trees in natural woodland shade in my backyard are not quite ready. Almost there.
Last autumn, I wrote a post, entitled “a rare pleasure,” all about my feelings for this iconic tree of the Southern Appalachian forests, now under threat of extinction, and what its loss may mean for the life of this bioregion, and how the awareness of its possible fate inspires me to live now. In my opinion, it’s one of my better posts. You are welcome to see for yourself.
p.s. As I finish this post it has begun to rain, a soft gentle rain, and it is so beautiful.
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Dear Meredith, I am so reassured by this posting that just exudes peace and calm. At last, I feel you are settling into the season of bounty which is already upon you. How wonderful to take time to observe closely, reflect and just revel in the glory of the promise and hope of a new gardening year. It is so invigorating and refreshing that all the burdens of what I imagine is your highly pressurised work must seem so much more manageable.
The Liriodendron is truly magnificent and has an extraordinarily special quality set against that beautiful blue sky with wisps of white cloud. I have so enjoyed looking at those images and imagining myself gazing wistfully up to the skies.
I hope that you will enjoy a wonderful weekend.
Edith Hope´s last blog ..Get Ahead – Wear a Hat
Edith, I do feel that I’m finally settling in — only today I told F. I felt like I was finally awake and myself again. I think the winter months have a pretty negative pull on my psyche. My work is full of pressure only occasionally. The pressure lately has been due to worrying whether there will be enough work just around the corner — a senseless way to waste a perfectly good moment.
I’m glad you liked the photos!
Meredith, this was a simply beautiful post. I hope you continue to enjoy your time observing the changes in the woods and gardens, soaking up the peace and optimism they represent. Please keep sharing your reflections here. I love reading them. (And I hear you about the pollen…it’s been beastly lately–even our dog is having allergic attacks!) I’m going to go read your dogwood post now, as I love these trees, too.
Kathy´s last blog ..I [Heart] Baseball
Thank you, Kathy. You are so sweet. I do hope your puppy is over his allergies soon, and that you enjoyed the dogwood post!
I spotted a dogwood tree behind a friend’s house last evening – one of the first blooming ones I’ve seen this year. It is terrible that they have suffered from blight, because they are truly beautiful.
It is raining here, too, today. Thank you for the lovely post!
Lynn´s last blog ..Popping out, half off and dear…
I would not, of course, choose any tree as a victim of blight — but it seems particularly cruel that it’s the beloved dogwood.
Glad you enjoyed the post, Lynn!
Thank you, Meredith. I enjoy my time spent here (I always do). This post makes me appreciate the joy of spring even more and I’m glad you’re getting some of those ultra-valuable April showers
Talon´s last blog ..The Apology (Short Story)
I’m so glad, Talon. I chose my title today without realizing you had a very special anniversary over at your blog. Hope it was a good one!
Here in Florida everythings already green and it was 87 degrees today! I guess there are some advantages to living further north. I love the last photo by the way, especially because of the out of focus background.
The Rainforest Gardener´s last blog ..5 Reasons to Garden Tropical in a Colder Climate
Rainforest Gardener, I think there are advantages to living wherever one happens to be. The trick is in finding them and celebrating them with all one’s heart.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the last shot.
Meredith, ABC news did a piece this evening on the astronomically high pollen counts in the mi-Atlantic and southeast — apparently because everything is blooming at once. At one pollen meter in Atlanta, where they count anything over 120 as high, today’s count was over 5,000! No wonder people are suffering! Almost makes me glad not much is blooming here yet.
Jean´s last blog ..Invasive Plants: What’s A Gardener To Do?
Oh, Jean, that makes more sense then. I was horrified to realize this morning that my computer equipment for work had a fine layer of the gold stuff on it, brought in through the open window overnight. But how we could go without open windows in this heat lately, I do not know.
The upside is we’ll get through the pollen season very quickly indeed if everything is going to bloom and release simultaneously!
Meredith, What a beautiful post! Like you, I love my trees. I was out taking photos of my dogwoods today. They are in full bloom. We have many old dogwoods on our property that are in decline, but we have a number of younger ones coming up to take their place. They are among my favorite trees. The pollen turned our world yellow this week. Early this morning we had a strong rain that washed a lot of it away. i am fortunate I do not have allergies at all!
debsgarden´s last blog ..BBG Japanese Garden, a Stroll in Heaven
Thank you, Deb. I’m so glad you have young and healthy dogwoods on your property. That makes me smile. I do so hope the forecasts of their extinction are exaggerated or the data has been misinterpreted.
And you are fortunate, indeed!
You write so beautifully, Meredith. I loved this post. I miss the dogwoods of North Carolina. I too have always loved trees. I think that was one of my favorite things about Wake Forest, waking up each morning and seeing those big giant Magnolias. So beautiful; I sure do miss the South. I hope you get some respite from those pesty allergies and get to enjoy this rather warm spring!
alisha´s last blog ..Can I tell you a secret?
Alisha, you know compliments about my writing are my very favorite present.
I’m looking forward to those giant magnolia blossoms in May, myself. I’ve lived away from the South, too, several times, and eventually learned to appreciate other trees — but there’s something about the ones I know from old that keeps me coming back, like a boomerang. I do hope you at least get a vacation in NC soon, hon.
What a very interesting photo of the dogwood bloom about to open.
Today is also the 20th anniversary of the Twin Peaks pilot. Did you ever watch that show? I think you’re probably a bit younger than me, but I’ve been thinking back to being a teenager, being totally captivated by it, and watching it with my then boyfriend (now husband) in the family room at my parents house.
Wendy´s last blog ..Spring Break 2010: farms, fires, eggs, and eggs
Thank you, Wendy. I thought it was an unusual way to view them. Although of course I plan to take plenty of shots of the creamy mature blossoms, too.
I never even saw Twin Peaks, but it was quite the phenomenon. It was considered too risque or something by my parents. But I have no idea what it was really like — maybe quite innocent. Keep in mind these are the people who refused to let me purchase a pop or rock music album, sure it would rot my soul or some such.
(Not that I mind much today. I had plenty of time for all that later, and an abiding love of classical music lingers on today as a bonus.)
I remember Twin Peaks. The music was haunting. The story weird – her job interview was successful because she could tie a knot in a cherry stalk with her tongue. And then it fizzled out, without ending. Or at least, for us here in South Africa.
You seem to have found a way to make time to keep the posts coming, and I so enjoy your words.
Thank you, Diana. The words seem to want to come whether I make time or not — so I’m trying to make the time.
What a strange — and almost obscene — trick to pull out for a job interview! I’m just glad I’ve never had to resort to anything similar for employment.
Why thank you… I am on a 4 claritin a day binge until this yellow blanket stuff is over.
It is raining right now for the first time in weeks and I am thinking tomorrow is going to be a non-yellow morning and my eyes are going to open up without having to use goo be gone!
Jess´s last blog ..I Think I Can, I Think I Can
Oh, Jess, that’s terrible! I hate the feeling of being on allergy meds, as if your life is either a blur or is being lived on a drunken tilt-a-whirl. Although I’m told the Claritin is way better than what came before it. (I was severely allergic until some genetic code or other switched on in late adolescence, freeing me, hopefully forever.)
I so hope you get a medication-free day after the rainstorms today!
What a warm and happy-making post this is, Meredith. Your love song to the tulip tree and the dogwood made me happy and I can feel your giddy delight in all that is spring. It’s a wonderful time, indeed.
jodi (bloomingwriter)´s last blog ..Public Service Announcement: Seedy Saturday in Wolfville
I’m glad you enjoyed my “love song” to the trees in spring, Jodi. It makes me smile to read your kind and light-hearted response. May spring come soon to you!
Such a new – and wondrous – perspective on an anniversary.
elizabeth´s last blog ..the st. johns bridge
Thank you, Elizabeth.
How do you do it, Meredith, how can a visit to your blog, reading your words calm me right down and make me feel that the world isn’t spinning out of control and I’m not about to fall off? Thank you once again xx
carrie´s last blog ..Boys a dear, I’m a sleepy girl
Oh, Carrie, I’m so glad the post has done that for you! You are most welcome. You are definitely not about to fall off; I’m hoping you are about to fall in love again — with spring.
Lovely post, Meredith. And the photos are beautiful. I espeically loved the last one, with its budding promise.
*a soft gentle rain* would make me want to curl up and read a book or putter around doing nonessentials. Delicious peace.
Jewel Allen´s last blog ..Rewrite Please
Thank you, Jewel. This gentle rain turned quickly into a major thunderstorm, so it electrified and filled me with energy instead.
Hello Meredith,
It was so wonderful to experience spring in your area through your pictures and words
Noelle/azplantlady´s last blog ..Impatient To Grow Up….
I’m glad, Noelle.
every afternoon when I get home from work, I feed the dogs and then we all go outside to lay in the grass. I LOVE this time of year….
brandi´s last blog ..we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming for some existential angst
It’s a lay-in-the-grass kind of time.
aloha meredith,
i knew where kindred spirits…i can spend alot of time just looking up at trees and branches and things around me…when you describe the simple things around you, i can see them also…i love dogwood trees also, can’t wait to see some blooms from your posts.
btw, i kinda though you would be a belly dancing star or even a hula dancer too!
noel´s last blog ..Fresh Leis for Aloha Friday
Oh, we’re definitely kindred spirits, Noel.
And no, I’m no belly dancing star, and I’ve probably even gotten a lot worse in technique by not being near a dance studio here in the countryside — but I do love to belly dance. I wanted to take a day-long hula workshop once in Atlanta, but sadly did not make the time. Next time I’m in a city of some size with hula classes, you know I’ll be there. 
I’ve really enjoyed your series of posts on the hula!
Meredith, A lovely post and the one you wrote last fall about the dogwood and its possible extinction was splendid. In that oh, my this is a terrible fate for this wonderful tree, but, doesn’t she write beautifully. I hope the rain comes and washed the pollen away, it really is bad right now…my dark brown porch floor looks green! gail
Gail´s last blog ..Container Hope
Thank you for those kind words, Gail. They mean a lot! If only there was something concrete we could do for the dogwood besides not touching the wild ones… and of course choosing to live in a way that harms the earth as little as possible, perhaps one day not at all. But it feels like such an indirect approach; doesn’t it?
I’m hoping you get some pollen relief soon, too. We got some in the form of a rainstorm — but the world is slowly turning yellow again.
Hello Meredith,
A beautiful post capturing the heart and soul of every lover of all things natural and new. The beauty of those branches against the clear sky along with thoughts of rain to clear the pollen that is blanketing the earth it seems these days. Happy spring… and yes… touch, see, smell and yet take in every nuance of the newness all at once.
Meems @HoeandShovel
Meems @ HoeandShovel´s last blog ..Sunny Florida is Sunny Again
Meems, what a lovely compliment! Thank you. I hope we will all get out there and touch, see, and smell the glories of the season.
Happy spring to you, too!
what inspirational post,
love the freshness of the flowers,
rain drops add to sentiments…
Happy Saturday!
jingle´s last blog ..Weekend Funnies Week 5-But A Fierce Tempered Man To Marry
So glad you enjoyed it, Jingle.
From the other side of the world I feel like I am there amongst all the spring blooms unfolding…so much so my eyes are starting to itch a little with all that talk of pollen
I did just pop in and read your ‘rare pleasure’ post Meredith (one that I had missed the first time around) and was saddened to hear that the dogwood is under such threat, made all the more poignant by the tender way that you write about it.
Heidi´s last blog ..Pretty Parasite
The pollen is not quite so intense today, Heidi, maybe because our nighttime temperatures have cooled off considerably. (So cold last night I had to drag in the tomato and pepper seedlings.)
Thank you for dropping in to read the other post, too. The dogwood may be a fleeting pleasure, so I’m going to enjoy it while I can.
elsa´s last blog ..little red