Burgeoning signs of spring cuddle the earth in warmth. Morning begins its ritual of awakening. A bluish, spring sky and its cottony puffballs of clouds float on by. Time moves quickly so I pause to breathe in the essence of springtime.
as fellow slicer friend, Terje Akke from Estonia, would say.
Small treasures from Estonia
Nature Photo by Terje Akke
On this last day of National Poetry Month, I will continue to watch the blossoms in my garden and on my Poetry Parade Padlet bloom. The above photo and the combined image poem below will be showcased on the padlet and be part of my new gallery of artistic expressions. Please add your offerings.
May spring's sunlit day and seasonal rains allow your garden to burgeon with joy.
I now join the Tuesday Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers, a meeting place for reflective writers.
Mother's Day weekend is usually the best time to plant on Long Island but now that I moved to Virginia, I took the cue from my neighbors and planted earlier. Some of my herbs and flowers were hardy enough to endure the changes in temperature. Some did not so as Mother's Day approached, landscaping our new patio with beautiful beds of herbs and perennials became my focus. It was time to stop and smell the roses and not fret about unpacked boxes inside the home.
The builder's landscaping team arrived a few days before Mother's Day weekend and swapped out plants that were not on my wish list for beautiful flowering azaleas, a young holly bush, budding knock-out roses, and a cherry tree. The challenges of my family's life move started to turn to joy as I watched the plants enter the ground.
Next on the agenda was a visit to the wholesale nursery with my gardener to choose a beautiful combination of perennials and herbs for my new gardens. While the weather felt more like a cool end-of-winter day rather than a spring one, I layered up and took off to the nursery with my husband. The first task was to find the weeping cherry tree for the back lawn that my husband had on his wish list. Who wouldn't want such a tree? After all, we now live in Virginia, well-noted for their blossoming cherry trees. Following that, we roamed rows of perennials to choose an assortment that would bring color to either side of the patio. The trip proved to be delightful.
Early on Mother's Day, the gardeners arrived with truckloads of river rocks, large stones for decorative edging, and my tree and plants. The team diligently despite the coldish weather. When they finished planting and edging all the beds with large stones, I realized that Mother's Day will be celebrated in joy from the fruit of their labors.
I hope everyone's Mother's Day was filled with Blossoms ofJoy! (To hear more about this topic click on the link above to read other slicers' thoughts on this topic.)
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"The lesson I have thorougly learnt, and wish to pass on to others, is to know the enduring happiness that the love a garden gives."
-Gertrude Stein
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I am strolling over to a garden of blossoming slices of life atTwo Writing Teachers.
Each year, I look forward to May's celebratory nod to nature. This year, I celebrate the bounty of the earth in a new location. What better way to bring joy to my new space than to explore nature, take photos, digitize them, and write poetry when I am not unpacking boxes!
Outside, pots are full of blossoms and ferns. Inside, artificial floral displays adorn the house. I sort, organize, and sometimes have enough time to walk the creek path near my house, listen to bird calls, and view small patches of wildflowers. On Sunday, we went to an outdoor Mass at a local farm's barn. While listening to the priest, nature surrounded us under bright clouds and sky. The colors of spring popped and we were at peace.
Today, I sit at my desk watching the sky turn from gray to clear sunshine while composing this post. As host of Spiritual Journey Thursday this month, I offer the theme, Blossoms of Joy or any variation, for you to ponder and create your own blog post, poem, inspirational thought, or any other artistic expression.
In praise of May's blossoms and Earth's greenery, I give thanks to the Almighty Creator,
the ultimate, artistic benefactor of beauty, peace, and love.
"May my soul bloom in love for all existence." -Rudolf Steiner
In Virginia, I find cherry blossom and trees adorning highways and parks. Their beauty is so inspiring that I requested the builders' landscaping department to plant both a cherry and pear tree on my property. This Friday, my cherry tree and azaleas will arrive. I will enjoy their blossoms for years to come and give "praise with elation, praise every morning-God's recreation of the new day." This line from Cat Stevens song, Morning Has Broken, is a gentle song of praise sung at my church wedding ceremony. It is one that brings back a sweet memory of a fragrant gardenia adorning my hair.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. - Revelation 4:11
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Members of the Spiritual Journey Thursday community, please add your links below.
Guest bloggers, writers, and poets are welcomed to join in and add their links!
I look forward to reading your posts. Enjoy springtime.
