Springtime DigiPoetry Brings Perpetual Astonishment

Beneath a sky of vivid blue and softened clouds, springtime opens its blooms. With "perpetual astonishment" (Ellis Peters), I watch nature's colors burst open in my garden.  

This vivid photo shares some of nature's brilliant creations. With the addition of poetry and a digital device, FotoJet, Spring sends a message of the beauty of her season. You can find more digital elegance captured in poetic verses at my padlet gallery, "Spring Seeds Grace April," which became my 2026 National Poetry Month project. 

A variety of poet friends, photographers, and artists collaborated with me throughout April and into May. But this collaboration did not start recently. It began in 2014, as I openly invited others to join me in designing galleries of artistic expressions with seasonal themes. On April 21, 2017, I wrote a blogpost, "Digipoetry is..." to explain my  loves: poetry, artwork, digital artwork and literacy. For this year's gallery, I started with a padlet, a place to create a living, digital gallery via a slideshow. I added in the theme of spring seeds gracing early spring in April, and thought "as spring flowers bloom, digital blossoms, and settings shall grow." 

"Spring adds a new life and new beauty to all that is." (Jessica Harrelson) So enjoy the various spring settings and let peace live in your space. Below is another image poem created when digipoetry touched my heart.

It may be late for my Poetry Friday blog but I watched the different formations of a Spring day. The day opened with beautiful weather, moved on to heated temperatures, and now it offers a gray sky, bold noises cracking, and a deep downpour. Whether your space is inside or outside, remember that your mind can blossom just like the blooms so be creative and let your imagination stir. 

Now, I am ready to enter the Poetry Friday Roundup hosted by Linda Mitchell who is celebrating the end of school. Even thought it rained a while ago, the sky is shedding light down on Earth, so celebrating life and children as Linda suggests brings a sense of calm to this spring day. You can find quotes about children and a beautiful piece of artwork to inspire you to blend art, imagery, with word weaving to create a springtime poem. My Padlet Gallery is open if anyone would like to share an image poem, ekphrastic poem, photo, art piece, or music, I would be delighted. 

Digital art by CVarsalona

Navigating Reality

Today, April 1st unveiled the wonder of a spring day. Birds called to one another, singing their sweet songs. Clouds layered their billowy, flowing apperance above distant mountains and nature dusted earth with budding trees draped in white. All appeared to be peaceful and calm. The stormy weather the night before ushered in April's breaths of newness.

If I could touch the sky with its profound beauty, I might feel the hope that springtime brings and better understand how "the heart regrows hope". (Angie Weiland-Crosby)

spring's beauty unfolds

like blossoming petals

earth renews life

©CVarsalona, April 2025

Join me during National Poetry Month as I navigate reality to find peace and feel the breath of spring renewing life.

Thank you Two Writing Teachers, a meeting place

for a world of reflective writers!

- My Opening Slice of Life for National Poetry Month -

Perhaps, this month I will be able to better navigate reality

during life's challenging times.

Growth on the Spiritual Journey

Springtime offers verdant landscapes with lush settings. It is a time of growth, rebirth, and rejuvenation as Earth reawakens from its winter slumber. The month of May opens the door to our Spiritual Journey host, Jone Rush MacCulloch's, theme on growth.

There is environmental growth and personal, self-growth. The digitized photo of a day with nature is shown below. I distinctly remember walking the grounds of Westbury Gardens, a Long Island historical site, with a euphoric feeling.  Nature was aglow. the grounds were manicured and the gardens blooming. 

What did I learn about springtime from this memorable day? 

• Walking in nature can become a ritual that helps boost energy while developing a positive mindset
• When the earth is blooming there is a sense of calm
• Quiet time helps to get to know yourself 
• Rather than attempting to reach the final draft of ourselves, we should find the courage to keep revising  -Susan David

News:

• I started an abracadabra, magic nine poem for my Poetry Parade Padlet. 
• I will add two wonderful artistic expressions sent via mail from Marcie Flinchum Atkins and Irene Latham. 
• Carol Labuzzetta mailed me her stunning book, Picture Perfect Poetry: An Anthology of Ekphrastic Poetry for Students. I am proud and honored to have three ekphrastic poems and another nature photograph published in her book

You can still send me your image poems or other offerings for the Poetry Parade Padlet, my National Poetry Month project.

Thank you, Jone Rush MacCulloch, for hosting Spiritual Journey with the May theme, growth, for our community of writers. I also thank Buffy Silverman, host of Poetry Friday, for her interesting science-literacy post. I plan on making the rounds this weekend.  

New Ideas for NPM Month

Dear Springtime,

Recently, showers have splashed across pavements and fogged windows while blurring your spring colors. As a troubadour of nature, I pause to honor the earth and nature's seasonal transition during April's National Poetry Month. Through the lens of nature photography, digital graphics, and poetrylicious poetry, I wish to restore a colorful lens to my everyday life and renew my spirit of creativity. I will wait patiently for your palette of colors to pop and the weather to warm. 

Sincerely, Your Faithful Follower

With pleasure, I invite my poet friends, writers, artists, and nature lovers to capture the splendors of a springtime moment and  join me as I write 

⤵

for my 2024 National Poetry Month Project

⤵

Join the Gallery of Artistic Expressions, Poetry Parade 

Capture the splendors of Springtime with your creativity.

Your options are:

• an original poem superimposed on a photo (image poem)
• a collage poem with scrapbook art
• a postcard poem
• a playlist of springtime music
• inspirational quotes on springtime
• Please add your offering to my Poetry Parade Padlet here.

As Myra Garces-Bascal stated in a previous Poetry Friday, "Poetry requires one to pause, consider, and stare at the marvel of the world. the intricacies of a leaf, or be still enough to let melody wash over one's soul."

While cruising on the Potomac yesterday, I searched for the treasured cherry blossoms but many were whisked away with the rains. While this was disappointing. nature did offer a glimpse of a few beautiful cherry trees at the entrance to the docks.

☔☔☔

Below is my image poem from yesterday's Lunch Cruise in Washington, DC.

☔☔☔

It is time to join the Poetry Friday Roundup at Irene Latham's blog.

Irene has poetic goodness to share with her recent public community poetry project in Blount County, Alabama. I was happy to share some of my image poems for her project. Irene is also showcasing the beginning of the Progressive Poem up to her fifth line in the poem. I am excited to read the line for the day each morning. Besides all of this news, there is more. Irene shared her ArtSpeak: FOLK ART poem, titled Prayer. Thank you, Irene, for being this week's hostess.

Enjoying Springtime

“Let us find inner freedom in each lucky moment that we encounter, like a sun-basking butterfly that finds peace on a cherry blossom petal.”

 – Erik Pevernagie

The weeping cherry tree planted in my Virginia garden stands tall in its early stages of development. According to legend, the gift of the cherry tree brings good luck and future happiness in the days to come. I thought the beautiful little buds were going to fall down during the daylong rain but they did not so I can continue to enjoy the sight.

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for providing a meeting place for reflective writers around the globe. I am offering this slice for 24 of the 16th Annual SOLSC! #SOL23 March Writing Challenge. It is Multi-lit Friday so in honor of my international slicer friend, Terje Akke from Estonia, I ask: "Kas sa naudid kevadet?" (The translation should read, "Are you enjoying spring?")

Slicer Party #SOL23 RSVP

Slicer Leigh Anne Eck is an exceptional hostess. Once again, she is hostessing an online slicer party during the last weeks of the 16th Annual March Slice of Life Challenge. Below is the beautiful invitation that was posted on Leigh Anne's blog, One Day in the Life, on March 16th. 

This year, Leigh Anne is inviting slicers to think about our best colors. In 2021, she found a slice by a fellow slicer, Deborah Dillon, and decided that her thought, "The best colors are everywhere because they are in the things I love.."  would become our RSVP to Leigh Anne's party. 

to the party, I will bring:

a poetic bouquet of springtime colors

scented in lavender

against nature's fields of green-

twigs of cherry blossoms

from Virginia's trees-

delicate forsythias to

add to a funnel-shaped vase-

spring adds colors to

liven earth,

freshen each heart,

offer renewal

©CVarsalona, 2023

Photos from Unsplash

Robin Williams stated, "Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party." Yes, thank you Leigh Anne for suggesting a party of colors. May the colors of the earth provide a joyful experience for all at your party.

*****

Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge Day 21.

#SOL22 March Musings Day 26: Winter In Spring

Cherry blossom trees are always the stars of the season in Washington, DC. 

Photos of a beautiful cherry blossom tree In January during winter and March 21st in spring.

-Kevin Ambrose, The Washington Post

With full anticipation of seeing the gorgeous display in the Tidal Basin, I sat in front of my young weeping cherry blossom tree contemplating how beautiful it looked even without full blossoms. Then, today while completing errands, an unexpected rainstorm blew in. A sudden sleet storm followed with swooshing winds and cold air. I thought of my little weeping cherry blossom tree shivering in my backyard and wondered if it and the trees in the Tidal Basin will continue to bloom.

Winter in Spring

©CV, 2022, Virginia

*****************

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for this daily meeting place to connect with a community of reflective writers. 

Bunceeing a Thought on Earth Day

Each year, I look forward to Earth Day as a day of celebration. This year, I celebrate the bounty of the earth in a new location. What better way to enjoy nature than with flowers and blossoming trees lining highways and garden beds. Tucked away in Gainesville, Virginia, I am eager to plan my new garden. A cherry tree and azalea plants arrive from the landscape team for the front lawn and my new gardener is ready to dig backyard garden beds to spend time contemplating the blessings of my life move.

like flowers we bloom

with radiance in springtime-

mindful practice

©CV, 2021

⁕⁕⁕

Today is Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers. The artistic expressions: #haikuforhope and inspirational quote created with Buncee, are added to celebrate National Poetry Month 2021. Enjoy springtime and celebrate Earth Day this Thursday in your own way to give homage to Earth.

First Day of Spring

Sixty degrees and sunshine marks the first day of spring. It is uplifting. I itch to go outside walking in nature but my honey-do list is endless. The work of organizing the kitchen in my new home simply has to be completed. A sense of nervous impatience to rid the house of unpacked boxes brings a decision to postpone a nature walk until later in the day. 

Finally, I am ready for a short ride to visit my granddaughters. The weather feels like warmer than earlier in the day. The ride is pleasant and the forest-like environment in the community of Reston where my little ones live is restful and peaceful. Tall trees line the road like elegant guardsmen, a welcoming sight, and the daffodils sprouting up in vivid clumps is delightful also. BUT, the best part of the first day of springtime is the joy of seeing two happy little granddaughters enjoying nature. 

Springtime turns a blank canvas into a colorful piece of art.

Daffodils dance under a golden sun while trees stand guard.

Children discover the gleeful joy of nature's playground.

©CV, 2021, draft

Thank you to slicer "Arjeha" for providing information on the sijo poetic format and posting his original poem. Click here to read all. Please feel free to comment on my first-time sijo poem in draft form.

Day 21 of Two Writing Teachers' March SOLSCI, #SOL21, March Musings 2021

Recalling Spring

My wonder pal, Christie Wyman, is hosting Poetry Friday at Wondering and Wondering this week. She invited members of the community to write a poem with a tree-related theme. Studying her photo below, I recall a long-ago spring afternoon filled with wistful wondering.

Photo of Fairyland Pond by Christie Wyman

Tucked away in the corners of my mind,

a long-forgotten memory surfaces.

Glints 

of sunshine

shine through trees

inviting me to breathe in

the freshness of springtime air.

I wander through lush countryside

wistfully wondering, finding the right angle

behind a camera lens. I seek nature's beauty

and notice majestic trees solemnly standing guard.

Their limbs lightly lift in the gentle breeze, gathering
my thoughts that race before me, in contrast to a slow pace.

Farmlands laden with red barns stretch out for miles. Wildflowers
growing abundantly wait for picking.  A solitary bench becomes an
ageless photo.

Time does pass.

Memories fade

like ink on
parchment

but nature
remains as
a constant.

©CVarsalona, 2019

In searching for poetry on trees, I found Joyce Kilmer, Trees, an all-time favorite, and a video of Nelson Eddy putting the poem to song. You can access that here.

Digitized photo of upstate New York in springtime

Christie's photo and mine will brighten the walls of the Splendid Spring Gallery collection that waits to be unveiled.

Carol Varsalona: Wish Weeds of Springtime | Wonder Ground

This post can found on the Wonder Ground at my Wonderopolis Wonder Lead Ambassador site. 

Quick Thought: 
If you had a wish weed in your hand what would you wish for this springtime?

My New Digital Inspirations:

Thank you Terje Akke for the Estonian dandelion field photograph.

Spring Celebrates Life

Spring is when life's alive in everything.

-Christina Rossetti

Whether the rains fall in torrential waves, there is a chill in the air, or the sun shines brightly, spring sends out messages of love and renewal. Recently on Long Island, there have been many looks to springtime, all leading me to celebrate springtime.

Last weekend there was a twelve hour span of beautiful sunshine for our Shower of Love-a celebration of life growing!

 

This glorious day was followed by cleansing rains throughout the week that brought more life to my gardens. Hofstras and herbs popped in their garden beds. The peonies are ready to burst open and the front planters of colorful flowers are looking regal.

Springtime honors life in its many forms. At the end of this week, I look back on life through a positive lens. There were several springtime celebrations, a baby shower, spring rain showers, a fundraiser for beautiful, handmade African jewelry and accessories, a professional learning opportunity, an art gala, and time to spend with family and friends. 

  

 

Balance and tranquility flowed, as it should when you look at life with a positive outlook. 

May you find positivity this coming week in all that you do and celebrate the wonder of life in springtime!

I am "Celebrating This Week" with Ruth Ayres so please visit Ruth's site to read how the community of bloggers celebrated their week.