Spring? Not quite—or did I miss it?
Hello!
The season is playing games with us. It’s up in the 70s, then down to the 20s, with another dusting of snow, all in a matter of 24 hours. It’s disorienting, even for the most weather-savvy.
A bit like the mythical pushmi-pullyu in Dr. Doolittle. This “rarest animal of them all” had two llama-like heads, one at either end of the body, pointing away from the torso, so that the creature was always facing in two directions at once.
Know the feeling?
This time of year, wherever I have been in the world, I get excited about the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC, and follow them online via live stream. “Peak Bloom” is expected this week!
To the Japanese, who gave us this beautiful tradition, the fleeting beauty of the cherry blossoms is symbolic of both renewal and impermanence—arriving early in spring, bright and full, and gone before long. They are a quiet celebration of life’s beauty, and how quickly it passes.
I have experienced the cherry blossoms first hand only one time (so far). It was an exquisite experience. It was a very warm day, and the lobed curves of the Tidal Basin path loop completely disoriented me. Amid the dense clouds of fluffy pink and white blossom-laden branches hanging low, I was almost dizzy. Ethereal.
But now the other end of my inner pushmi-pullyu is stirring.
And so, I will move away from the webcam, pull my head out of the petal clouds, take myself outside, and check on what is emerging right here in Canaan Valley. This is the promise of flowers to come – bachelor buttons, delphiniums (like in the photo), snapdragons and sweet peas, to name a few. Not as fleeting as the blossoms in DC, but no less worth the wait. Flowers come in their own good time here, and when these ones bloom, they last.
I can’t wait to be sharing them with you. I’ve got a few things taking shape—gift cards, subscriptions, and a farm stand. They will be ready soon and I’ll be sure to let you know!
Let there be flowers!
Lizz
PS - The #BloomCam is online at https://www.bloomcam.org/.