“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.” (Pablo Neruda)
Here we are starting the second week of April and yesterday snow covered the ground and the weather guys actually have snowflakes in the forecast again tonight. So while the quote above is good that whether we have flowers or not, we still have spring, maybe this year we’ll have to change it to say whether the flowers bloom or not, that won’t keep spring from coming.
Actually, the flowers are blooming. Maybe not with the same abandon and hurry as some springs, but we do have flowers. What would spring be without flowers and the world turning green?
“Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.” (Victor Kraft)
If you’ve been reading my blog posts the last few weeks, you know I’m having a spring giveaway right now. The prizes are candy, a journal, and books. You can check the details out on my Contact Page. I asked people (if they wanted to when they entered) to share a spring story or what they liked about spring. I’ve shared some of those stories here and will share a few more in my next posts, but today I’m sharing what I like about spring.
I like the sun warming the earth. And me. I like blue skies with fluffy white clouds and the wind blowing my hair every which way. I like that it’s the time for nature’s babies. Deer fawns. Little rabbits. Birds singing to entertain their mates as they nest. I like the green grass and the buds swelling on tree branches. I like the blossoms that bring fruit and the bees that buzz between those blooms to make the fruit happen. I smile at the hummingbirds at my feeders. I hike along creeks that make music as they ripple along their rocky paths.
And I like the flowers from the hardy dandelions scattered like sunspots through the grass to the most delicate wildflower. While I like spring flowers in yards and gardens – daffodils and tulips, roses and iris – planted by people who want to make our world more beautiful, I take the most joy in finding wildflowers that return every spring with only Mother Nature tending them. Delicate yet tough, they poke up through last autumn’s blanket of leaves and push open their petals to the sun before winter has packed up its cold winds and headed out of spring’s way. One day of sunshine, a sneaky bit of early warmth and the flowers explode out of the ground and prove that yes, spring is here.
These, the common cutleaf toothwort above, the delicate anemone here, the bloodroot blooms I almost missed because I thought it was too early to look for them, the Dutchman’s Breeches that were my mom’s favorite, and the wood poppy that we always called buttercup until the flower books showed us different are some of the flowers I’ve seen so far this spring. After a few more warm days, I’ll go flower hunting again to search out the trilliums, the trout lily, the sweet white violets, the pinks, and the jack-in-the-pulpits. Maybe I’ll even find some squirrel corn, fire pink and bell wort on down the creek. I’ve seen them all in other springs but I want to see them again. And if I do, I’ll take pictures and share them with you.
“I suppose the best kind of spring morning is the best weather God has to offer.” (Dodie Smith in Capture the Castle)
As always, thanks for reading. I hope spring is showing up at your place.
What flowers do you love in the spring?
Comments 20
Yes … I’ve seen reports of the robins having a rough time of it. Poor little babies. We could sure use some rain here, but I’ll keep providing water for our feathered friends.
Author
I’m sure your birds will appreciate it, Janette. Here we’ve had way more rain than usual thus far this year. Hope you get your fair share soon.
Ann,
I love almost all the spring flowers! They burst forth with so much beauty!!
My favorite scented flower is gardenias! They smell so very good.
Blessings, my friend!
Author
I had a gardenia plant that bloomed like crazy one summer, Robbie. They do have a sweet scent. I always have a hard time picking a favorite flower because then if I pick one, then I’ll see another that maybe I should have picked. We have a running joke at my little church about the hymns we sing. Our pastor often says whatever song we’re singing is one of his favorites. We’ve decided he has about 500 favorites. Maybe that’s the way I am with flowers.
Spring is just wonderful with all the flowers and all the baby wild animals! It really just improves my mood and everything . I dread that a birthday is coming up but oh well love that it is spring! We take some short scooter walks and always discover something new or something my hubby can put on his honey to do list. Happy Spring Ann!
Author
Hi, Peggy. You’re right. There’s always something new to see especially in the spring. I just went for a long walk down the creek. Frankie had a ball. I got to see some of the wildflowers I’ve missed the last two years because I didn’t go flower hunting early enough. But I do love the earth turning green and blooming in the spring.
We had snow here Saturday and Monday morning ! The robins still sing and perch with hope on the tree branches near our house where they always build . I just checked the chickadee house and they have completed their nest. Our koi are starting to move around in the pond, planning to open it on Friday as temps are supposed to reach 70 here in Dayton OH. I am still watching for the barn swallows to arrive, hopefully they will bring warm weather with them !!
Author
Sounds like spring is going to finally get to Ohio, Nancy. We’re having a few days of warmer weather and spring here in KY too. The sun warm on my back while I’m walking is very nice. I won’t think so in August, but I can enjoy it now. 🙂
Oh to name the wonders of the spring season. Warming earth, welcoming flowers (“March Flowers ” – jonquils are like blooming candles celebrating my birthday), the sweet notes of birdsong, the color of Japonica blooms, cheerful tulips, the woodlands blooming with redbuds and dogwoods. Baby chicks and lambs in all their fuzzy glory. Yes, I could write a story!
Author
And a lovely story it would be, Sandi. Thanks for sharing you spring thoughts and wonders. Fun to think about jonquils as your birthday candles. My mom’s birthday was in March and my daughter’s is too.
Hey Ann,
One of my favorite flowers is the Purple Lupine. Thank you for your cheerful spring blog post. Seeing your pics in this post made me smile.
(http://www.sophisticatedgardening.com/when-to-plant-lupines.html)
Author
Those are beautiful, Emily. I’ve never had any Lupines, but I can see why you like them. Thanks for sharing the link to a picture. Glad my flowers made you smile.
Noooo – it’s snowing again here in Maryland…
Author
We had a little snow this morning, Birdie. I’m with you. It’s time for snow to move on up to the North Pole.
Spring is here in Eastern New Mexico. My little robin friend has been visiting for several weeks now. The fruit trees are all blooming. My roses have gorgeous new growth. And my lilac is on bloom with it’s beautiful lavender flowers and sweet fragrance. My favorite season by far.
Author
I love lilacs, Janette. They are my favorite bush flower and they do smell wonderful. We’ve had plenty of robins, but they might be wondering if they came back up this way too soon with the cold weather we’ve had. Sounds as though things are very lovely in the spring in eastern New Mexico.
It’s been a long cold winter–and it isn’t over yet–according to the weather forecast. I was a patient in the hospital last week and into my room walked a nurse carrying a basket of flowers my church had sent. Wow! I, almost, felt a healing just from looking at them. I believe God went “the extra mile” in creating such beauty for us. Flowers bring hope–hope that Spring will come and the knowledge that through the winter, they are hiding down under the soil just waiting to come and bless us. My daffodils have been covered with snow at least five times, but they bow their little heads and then perk up again. Hope does spring eternal.
Author
Sorry to know you’ve been sick, Sandi. But you’re right about how flowers can bring cheer and warmth. Just knowing your church family is thinking about you and praying for you is a big boost to help you feel better. You’re right about those tough daffodils too. They can handle snow and cold and still bloom. Hope does spring eternal and aren’t we glad it does?
God’s bounty of colorful spring flowers are showers of blessings to the senses! Thanks for sharing the beauty you see.
Author
Love that thought, Jackie. Showers of blessings in flower petals and spring beauty. Sometimes we do need to stop and enjoy those blessings around us.