Spring's Seeds Gallery Unveiled

As a troubadour of life's whisperings,  

I open the door to Spring's Seeds, 
the gallery of artistic expressions 
that speaks of the wonders of nature in springtime.

While the heat of the summer is upon us, step back to springtime and savor the varying landscapes that decorated the world with radiance.

Every spring is the only spring -
a perpetual astonishment
- Ellis Peters 

I invite you to stroll through the gallery, immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of the season. Awaken your senses as you peruse each creative, digital image poem, inspirational quote, and tranquil musical interlude. Poetic perspectives of spring are exemplified in well-crafted words and mood-inspired photographs from around the globe. 

As a confirmed wonderologist, I encourage you to notice and wonder the many sides of springtime along with me. Be filled with the representations of life as they remind you of nature's gift of new life. Spring's Seeds Gallery with its digital blossoms awaits you. 

Digital voice matters so please enjoy your tranquil journey back into springtime.

Vivaldi's "Spring" ushers in the gallery.

The day is fresh-washed and fair, 
and there is a smell of tulips and narcissus in the air. 

~Amy Lowell

Spring has returned. 
The earth is like a child that knows poems.

~Rainer Maria Rilke submitted by Diane Mayr

A rain kissed tulip 
Greets spring's cooler weather. 
Happy for its return. 

~Ramona Benchke

Please click here to see video created by the class.

Birds greet spring days with melodious chirping.

Zen gardens fill the air with their own tunes. 

Listen to the music as you stroll through the gallery.

e.e. cummings' "In Just Spring" was 

the model for the above poem

You can hear Cummings reading his poem here. 

A special repeat showcasing of the

"Thoughts Take Flight"

Created by Irene Latham and 

written by 30 Poetry Friday poets

"Behold, Spring is but a dance away!"

I grasp my pen, then capture this day."

You can access the poem in its entirety here.

Pause here to listen to the Mikado's song, 
"The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring," 
while viewing the digital blooms. 

To honor the global contributions to the gallery, 

please pause to listen here to Errach.

"This song is original music put to an Old Irish verse poem concerning the season of Spring." 

Digipoetry and inspirations from around the world

Photo Corner

 Please view Spring's Seeds Gallery Photolog here.

Nature is at peace in my garden.

I often wake to morning speaking softly 

of spring days. I hear my garden whispering:

"As spring flowers bloom, digital blossoms shall grow."

The fattest and most scrumptious of all flowers, 

a rare fusion of fluff and majesty,

 the peony is now coming into bloom.
–Henry Mitchell, American writer

Spring inspires!

Chopin's Spring Waltz is an inspiring accompaniment to the gallery. Listen here.

   

Spring Renews Life!

 

Spring reminds us to slow down and 
savor all the world has to offer.

Spring brings outdoors inside!

Each day I am reminded to notice life 
as it spreads its seeds of inspiration.

Spring Invites Reading Time!

Gallery visitors, thank you for sharing reflective time with the Spring's Seeds Gallery community. I would appreciate it if you would leave a response in the comment section or at #SpringsSeeds and @cvarsalona on Twitter to recognize the efforts of the gallery contributors who are listed below:

...To know someone who thinks & feels with us, & who, though distant. is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden.

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and submitted by Tabatha Yeatts

You can visit the previous 9 galleries by clicking on each link below: 
Winter Wanderings, Autumn's Palette, 
Summer Splashings, Spring’s Symphony, 
Winter Whisperings, Finding Fall, Summer Serenity, 
April Awakenings, Reflect With Me: Bring a Community of Writers Together to Celebrate Life & Teaching.

It has been a delightful experience to present global perspective of spring through a poetic lens. Spring has washed the world with color this past season and spread its seeds of inspiration.

Thank you to Jackie Yun for her reflection on 

the various galleries created.

While it is summer, the sun is setting on a cool, spring-like day here in Boston where I am presenting at #edcampliteracy and #ILA16. I am reminded tonight that seasons reflect the beauty of the earth in our surroundings. 

May Spring's seeds spread their wonders 

throughout your summer days. 

I am am grateful for the Poetry Friday community for always supporting my efforts to spread the wonder of poetry and the power of voice throughout the year.

Katie at The Logonauts is hosting 

Poetry Friday Roundup here this week.

The American Spirit

During the Fourth of July Weekend in Patriotic Style

Filled with the spirit of freedom and the opportunities it brings, I woke this weekend with the desire to CELEBRATE in patriotic fashion. Flashbacks of years past with fremily spurred me on. Baking ware came out, as did my secret ingredient, orange rinds. The kitchen started to have that creative chaos look that allows a little of this and a little of that blended together into new tasty items.

As I baked, I thought of the hands that came before me-those that folded dough with ease. I thought of the delicacies that were created to bring oohs and aahs from guests. I baked with happy memories, giving thanks that I came from a line of bakers who were inspired to hone their craft with each new design. I baked in peace, happy to create, and excited to share my newest baked items centered around the theme, the American dream. 

In my family, the American dream started with my grandmother coming to America as an immigrant. She brought with her a baby and a desire to live in freedom with her husband who immigrated previously to find a home for his family. The American dream continued with my mother growing up learning the arts at the hands of my grandmother. Her dream of becoming a fashion designer in New York City was realized for a short time before World War II started and then deferred when she needed to return home to Rome, New York to help support the family. I loved hearing the stories growing up. I watched, listened, and learned alongside these strong women who had "big" dreams for their family. 

Now, I think back, realizing that the American spirit has lived in my heart since a child. I understand what it means to have a dream because of my heritage. Perhaps, thoughts about the American spirit are best exemplified in Gloria Estefan's powerful song. 

American ideals and aspirations have been realized throughout the years by those who have come before us. It is my dream that my children will shape their future based on our family members who embodied the American spirit. 

I honor my past by sharing my creations, 

knowing that my grandmother and mother would be proud.

Fourth of July is the perfect day to be filled with thanks for what we have.

Today is Slice of Life Tuesday.

Please visit Two Writing Teachers here to read what other slicers are writing.

Celebrating Commitment to Learning

Each summer, educators gather to learn, share ideas, and build their literacy toolboxes. They notice and wonder. Creative sparks ignite and acts of designing and creating follow. 

This is what happened at the graduate course, Transforming Writing Lives Through Digital Tools and Creativity, that I facilitated at Molloy College on Long Island last week. Teachers-as-learners joined me for an intensive summer institute to study ways to increase student engagement in the literacy classroom. You can access my post on the learning that occurred here.

Next weekend, a celebration of literacy learning will continue at the International Literacy 2016 Conference. I am excited to learn alongside literacy experts as well as present with my colleagues.

In addition, I will attend EdCamp Literacy next week at the International Literacy Conference in Boston to enhance my own professional learning. I will present on Discovering Joy and Wonder Through Inquiry via Family Literacy. Being one of the Wonder Lead Ambassadors, I will gladly represent Wonderopolis as one of the lead sites affecting change in children's pursuit of wonder.

I thank, Leigh Anne Eck for her idea to showcase educators' summer learning in a slide presentation that can be accessed here. Below is the slide I contributed. I am also sharing this example of #digipoetry at my #ila16 presentation with Dr. Michele Haiken and poet, Laura Purdie Salas. 

I celebrate commitment to learning by all educators who are involved in summer learning as a means to hone their craft and ultimately their practice.

Please continue to read how others celebrate their week by visiting Ruth Ayres' blogging community, Celebrate This Week, that is built on the positives of weekly life. 

Nurtured by Nature

Nature continually nurtures my spirit. It inspires me to notice and wonder each day. This morning, I discovered new buds that delicately transformed into magnificent, brightly-colored blossoms. 

At times, I invite nature inside to spread its vibrancy and create additional moments to savor. Life is full when I am inspired by the wonders of nature.  

Each day, I am reminded to notice more 

as nature spreads its seeds of inspiration.

For those looking forward to the Spring's Seeds Gallery, I am still in the process of designing it. Life often intersects desire so stay tuned. 

It's time to visit the Poetry Friday Round-up. This week, Tabatha Yeatts is hosting at her site, The Opposite of Indifference.