Heuchera and emerging bulbs
Our feet are now firmly set on the long slow journey of the unfolding year.
Crocus
As with any journey, there may be set backs from time to time. Yet the journey continues. Our journey may take us to unanticipated stops along the way, and progress may be a bit slower than we wish; but the path still lies before us.
Yesterday’s snow, blowing in from the west, proved a set back for our journey towards spring.
The intensely cold air, blowing down from the north, brought us record low morning temperatures across the Eastern half of the United States.
It was 17 here this morning at 4:30, but I’m so grateful for that bit of warmth. Our neighbors to the north, around the Great Lakes, had a far colder morning when the sun finally rose.
Yesterday’s snow is now hardened into ice. But that ice is quickly melting and evaporating in our morning sun.
Daffodils emerging from the sun, buds ready to open one day soon.
We can find inspiration in the budding daffodils, surrounded by snow, still standing tall as they wait for their day to open. Snow melts from around their still green leaves, watering the Earth where they grow.
Snowdrops
We find inspiration in buds on lilac and Forsythia shrubs, showing color, but waiting to unfurl their petals. Unfurl they will, one day soon. The earliest of spring’s flowers inspire me with their courage and fortitude, opening to an uncertain world.
Forsythia and lilac
Their timing must be correct if they are to open at the perfect time to greet the insects who must pollinate them, and for their pollinated flowers to have the opportunity to set seeds for the coming season.
Kale
I wandered around in the falling snow yesterday, finding a thin layer of frozen whiteness blanketing new spring growth like fragile veils of lace. The very energy and vitality of the emerging leaves and buds seemed to shine through these icy mantillas, laid gently across the garden.
Mahonia
It was clear that they would melt swiftly away, like a bridal veil, after the first kiss of sunshine.
Because spring is an inevitable force of nature. Each day subtly lengthens in our vernal journey back towards the sun.
With every passing day the sun’s rays probe more deeply into the cells of every bough, leaf, and bud.
No matter what winds may blow across the surface of our planet, spring unfolds as the Earth’s deep energy responds to the sun’s approach.
We can not let the illusion of winter distract us from knowing the growing presence of spring.
Our path is set. Followed year upon year beyond memory, our journey follows the familiar landmarks. We are pilgrims in time, following an ancient map; making inevitable progress along the path of eternal change.
Grape Mahonia in bud
Photos by Woodland Gnome 2014
“A tree can be tempted out of its winter dormancy by a few hours of southerly sun—the readiness to believe in spring is stronger than sleep or sanity.”
Amy Leach
“The hopeless hope is one of the early harbingers of spring, bespeaking an innocent belief that the world might right its wrongs and reverse its curses simply because the trees are coming into leaf.”
Aleksandar Hemon
Forest Garden 
I hope you guys are warm with all the snow again and with power too! We had light snow, no accumulates! 🙂
We’re cozy and fine, Michael. Snowing again just to our south, but we had sun this morning. Cold here again tonight, so everything is refreezing. They just closed all of the bridges around Norfolk. Bad night for traveling. How is the step stool coming? 😉
I’m sure you haven’t any idea of how much I miss my northern home. My own snow laden trees and plants, the tangled grape vines stark against winter white. They’re gone now, no longer mine. Thank you for the beautiful images.
You’re very welcome 😉 Winter has such a clean, simple beauty. Every beautiful thing we appreciate remains ours, in our heart. We may leave a property, but we can still treasure our memories of it. hugs, WG
Lovely photos x
Thank you, Sue. 😉
🙂
Thinking of you and hoping you are safe and warm today. Thank you for another beautiful post. I loved your analogy of the snow melting off like a veil at the kiss of the sun – just beautiful! And that last quote brought tears to my eyes. Blessings to you – Sarah
Blessings to you, too, Sarah- I was thinking of you as one of our neighbors to the north getting it even worse than we are. We’ve been watching the national news and our heart goes out to all effected by these storms. What a tumultuous March so far, here and abroad. Hope you are well and warm. We are just fine here 😉 Hugs, WG