Blogging from A to Z: Early spring

For many of us this winter (and now early spring), have been really odd seasons. Not much snow or precipitation. In early March the tulips, daffodils, magnolias, lilacs, hostas and other perennials were dusting off their mulch and popping up to greet the season. Wildlife were waking from their deep winter slumber to look for food and nesting possibilities. I saw a baby Pileated Woodpecker at our birdfeeder two weeks ago. Many of us feared that we would get a late snow or final frost that would maim the early budding plants. We’re still holding our breaths.

A friend and I went for a drive to Rockville, Ind., and discovered this beautiful house with a burgeoning English-style garden hidden like a diamond in the rough.

Great care, meticulous time and probably a lot of love had been given to each area of the property. A large trellis overflowed with white and purple wisteria. A variety of colored tulips encircled a bricked sitting area. A fountain was bubbling near the center of the yard. What a beautifully tranquil setting! It was like walking into a Pride and Prejudice or Howards End movie. Weeds were not immediately present and, if they were, they appeared “planned” as was the rest of the garden greenery.

Along with the plants and wildlife, I admit that my heart has been surprised by the early spring as well. I was moseying along fine, with my sweatered heart, needing a bit of time to hibernate. I had finally gotten around to contacting the stock companies about my mother’s unexpected death (in 2010). We had my mom’s house rented out to a nice, young couple who were expecting their first child. I had neatly packed away my feelings of loss and grief like wool sweaters in protective cases under the bed.

Christmas came and even my toes felt lethargic. I kept waiting for that one wet and heavy snow that would fall like tufts of feathery down from the sky, filling up our backyard while I drank hot chocolate from our big picture windows. It was hard for me to decorate and my only inspiration was that I was going to have my brother’s family over for Christmas dinner and my nephew and his wife were home from China. I wanted the house to look festive and nice for company. It also gave me energy to shop for presents and I baked several batches of holiday cookies and fudge, although I completed everything just a week before Christmas.

I realized I’m no more in control of the seasons of my heart than I am of nature’s seasonal changes. It’s actually comforting to realize that there is a God who is much bigger than myself, who no matter what my feelings, will continue to bring spring, summer, fall and, yes, even winter, into my life whether I’m ready or not. It’s time for an early renewal of spirit with this early spring. It’s time to turn our leaves toward the sun, drink in the rain and trust that we’ll have everything that we need when we need it, like the Bradford Pear Tree or the Redbud Trees towering in our backyard. Welcome spring!