On Monday’s hike, I saw green grass sprouting here and there through the leaf matter on the trail. Yes, Spring is on its way!
And I saw the first mountain wildflower of the season — at least, the first to my eyes.
On the way back, I found daffodils growing wild beside the road.
A close-up, so you can see their lovely, intricate folds.
The willow trees are budding.
See the rock wall behind the willow tree? Well, there’s another rock wall, a very old one covered in moss, on the mountain (picture below). The soil in East Tennessee is extremely rocky, and rock walls and structures — even rock houses and churches — are a fairly common sight.
“A Light Exists in Spring” ~Emily Dickinson
A Light exists in Spring
Not present on the Year
At any other period —
When March is scarcely here
A Color stands abroad
On Solitary Fields
That Science cannot overtake
But Human Nature feels.
It waits upon the Lawn,
It shows the furthest Tree
Upon the furthest Slope you know
It almost speaks to you.
Then as Horizons step
Or Noons report away
Without the Formula of sound
It passes and we stay —
A quality of loss
Affecting our Content
As Trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a Sacrament.
19 Comments
I love the spring flowers! We have azaleas and bluebonnets blooming here, but the bluebonnets are the ones planted by the parks people, not the wild ones. The wild ones in the hill country will bloom later in the month, if the drought isn’t too bad.
Oooh, azaleas and bluebonnets! I love them both. Azaleas bring back fond memories of childhood, riding my bike and popping wheelies over the azalea bushes which lined the driveway of my childhood home.
We have a long-running drought here. But at least we got more moisture — rain and snow — in late fall and this winter. I just hope we continue to get decent moisture into the growing season or else our garden isn’t going to be happy.
Last resort, we could maybe pipe in some water from the nearby creek branch as long as there’s a trickle in there!
I love the pictures and the wonderful poem. You always know what poems go with what picture. You have a gift.
I’ll email tomorrow…kind of tired today after getting back from the hospital. Paul had his first dialysis today, he’s doing fine. Gretchen told all about her papa bean on her blog tonight.
Hugsabunches, KS…D
Stop teasing me so!!!
I can’t even SMELL spring yet. We’ve had a total bitch of a winter (‘scuse my French but a kinder word would do no justice) and I want the green back. I don’t care about the heat, just let me have some color!
Oh those lovely photos of flower and green. Perked me right up.
((((((((((((Dorothy))))))))))) — oh, I am so relieved to hear about Paul! I’ve been thinking about you and him every day. I’m so glad things went well for his dialysis. Take good care of yourself, my dear KS, and get plenty of rest.
*grin*, Wylie! Yeah, I’m loving the color and the buds. Don’t worry, Spring will come to you, too! I’m sorry your winter has been a bitch. We’ve had a bit more snow than usual here in East TN, but that doesn’t compare to the amount of snow you get!
Thanks, Leah!
I’m glad they perked you up. Flowers and buds are a happy sight indeed.
((((Thomma))) these are again beautiful pics! The flowers are lovely and I have some getting ready to bloom if we don’t have another hard frost! What Wylie said, I think is true, it’s the color we need. : D
Gorgeous photos! I love the tiny one poking up through the ground. It’s like a little sign of hope.
Hi, ((((((Kimmi)))))))! Another cold front is pushing through today and tomorrow so we might have some frosty days ahead, but there’ll be more where those flowers came from because the cool spells are growing shorter and shorter.
Thank you, Denise! What a perfect way to describe it: a little sign of hope.
My favorite all-time season.
Such great pictures, wish I could post some. But my camera’s missing, perhaps even “taken permanently without my persmission.” Oh well, a sign from the gods I needed a new one, anyway.
ACK, Jannie — I’m sorry your camera’s MIA. I hope you can get hold of a new one soon. Between taking pictures of my cats and pictures during my hikes, I’ve become a regular shutterbug!
That is so beautiful, Thomma Lyn…I look forward to signs of spring…so much of it is the same here. We cannot appreciate the different seasons. We have only two. Our transition to TN may have just hit a wall.
i don’t think i’ve ever seen wild daffodils!
Thanks, Beth! While running errands today, I noticed the dogwoods are in bloom. I’ll try to get pictures soon. There are wild dogwoods in the mountains. And ((((((hugs))))))), I’m so sorry to hear that your move might have hit a wall! I hope it can be resolved and soon.
Hi, Maya! No one has lived at that lot for some years, but I believe the daffodils were planted by former residents. They keep coming up, and they’re gorgeous.
we can see all the changes in the season around here too. I’m looking forward to my walk on Sunday up in the woods to see how much as changed up there too. (((Hugs)))
Best wishes to you and Grendel.
Annie
You take such good pictures, Annie! I’m looking forward to seeing your photos of Spring changes. I hope you have a wonderful walk on Sunday!
(((((((hugs)))))))) and best wishes to you and Orocarni.
What amazing pictures! I love the wild daffies, and *biosquee* on the frogeggs! Awesome find, my fellow naturalist! It’s nice to know spring is happening somewhere. The Northwest is showing no signs of it so far. It’s sorta creepy. o.o
PS: I can’t comment on the garden post for some reason – but I am sooooooo jealous!! We’ll have to have a chat about what you grow. And sometime, I’ll tell you about the garden I had growing up. Looks like a lot of work, but well worth it – it’s amazing!!! Loved your little helper, too. *grin*
hehe, Gwennie! *gigglesnorting* at “biosquee!” Aren’t the frog eggs wonderful? And they’re right along one of my regular trails, which means it’ll be easy to keep up with their development and take lots and lots of pictures.
I love our garden. Right now, we have lettuce and onions set out, but we’re going to wait a little while to plant more since the frosts and freezes in our area aren’t quite over yet. We’re planning on tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, and corn. I am loving gardening. I hadn’t done gardening of this magnitude since I was little, but it’s relaxing and rewarding, and pleasurable for me since I love being/working outdoors.
hehe, isn’t Snowball a dear!