Signs of Spring?!

A crocus greeted me when I walked out the side door. Normally, I enjoy seeing crocuses, an early sign of spring. But I am somewhat disturbed by signs of spring the first week of January. 

While watering the potted pansies out back, I noticed green shoots of daffodils poking up through the leaves. Again, I was more dismayed than excited. The daffodils are the Ice Follies variety that bloom in early to mid-spring. Has this winter been so warm that the plants are fooled? It was 70 degrees yesterday.

The neighbors' Japanese quince has begun blooming. 

I hear that the winter in Maine has been so mild that people are still playing golf and snowmobilers are upset by the lack of snow. In Florida at Christmas we experienced near-record warmth, with highs in the low 80s. I didn't complain, but I do wonder. Where is winter?

On December 9, I took this photo of a Prunus mume in bloom at the Coker Arboretum. I haven't had a chance to check back to see if the blooms got nipped when the temperature briefly dipped below freezing, but I have noticed other Japanese apricots in bloom in town.

Could this be another sign of global warming? Yes, I know that we cannot draw firm conclusions from one season of unseasonable weather. But it seems that we've been having many, many seasons of unseasonably warm weather. I trust plants (and my senses) far more than politicians.

Has your winter been unusually mild, too? 

Camellia

I walked past this camellia bush while on my way to comprehensive exams. 

Canticle of the Sun

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!

All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.

To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.

No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,

especially through my lord Brother Sun,

who brings the day; and you give light through him.

And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!

Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; 


in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
 

and clouds and storms, and all the weather,

through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water;
 

she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
 through whom you brighten the night.
 

He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
 

who feeds us and rules us,
 

and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you;
 

through those who endure sickness and trial.

Happy those who endure in peace,
 for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
 

from whose embrace no living person can escape.
 

Woe to those who die in mortal sin! 


Happy those she finds doing your most holy will.

The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord,
and give thanks,
and serve him with great humility.

-St. Francis of Assisi

Flowers, Love and Earth Day

Victoria Park Florist donated flowers to the NC
Botanical Garden Horticultural Therapy Program. 

A bucketful of flowers, slightly past their peak, has the power to transform someone’s day. We discovered this recently in doing horticultural therapy with men with severe brain injuries.

Fred cannot participate in most of our gardening projects because of damage to his hands. He often seems somewhere else, gazing into space and failing to respond to greetings or simple questions. Then a florist began donating flowers to our program.

When I placed the bucket of flowers on the table in front of Fred, he gave a rare smile. I began making small hand-tied flower arrangements, asking Fred to choose the flowers one by one as I placed them in the bouquet. He exhibited a nice sense of color and contrast, smiling almost the whole time. He even spoke a full sentence at one point. “I want the yellow one, there.” A small miracle.

Today we celebrate Earth Day. What more can we all do to share our love of flowers, plants and nature with others? I believe that love of nature in all its forms, not fear of destruction, is what ultimately will save us.

Dogwood Blooms

White dogwood flowers

     floating on waving branches 

outlast cold rain gusts