The Earliest Blooms of Spring
The Earliest Blooms of Spring
When Life Abounds Among the Dead of Winter
I live in rural Middle Tennessee among the distant foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Unlike Middle Earth of the Lord of the Rings, trees stay where they grow roots, and big-footed hobbits are not traipsing around saving the world from evil. It is actually quite uneventful in these parts. The forest is quiet, and the pace of our lives is slow and calm.
Since we are deep into the month of February, winter, with its barren trees and decaying leaves fallen everywhere, is holding on but winding down soon. It only appears that we are a long way from spring by the look of everything. My Dear Husband MaxZine pointed out to me that early signs of it abound if we simply look a little closer.
Earlier this week, DH and I went on a hike along one of the uphill trails behind our house in the woods. Along the way, we found tiny signs of life—little blooms and plants that foreshadow all that will unravel in the next season to come. These specimens are growing despite some cloudy days with little sun, cold temperatures, and ground that is covered with thick layers of decomposing leaves.
We have a batch of Lenten roses growing in my tea garden.
Beds of crimson clover have been planted as a cover crop in DH’s garden. It pleases the eyes to see rows of green among all the brown leaves everywhere.
Wispy tendrils spiral out of our Austrian winter peas.
The healing and lovely red dead nettles are back again!
These tiny flowers, the Harbinger of Spring, are easy to miss as they bloom along our hiking trail.
The Hairy Bittercress puts out some pretty and super small blooms.
Here are the distinctive leaves of phacelia.
The daffodils showcase their cheerful little suns.
I love the pattern on these putty root orchid leaves
A shiitake mushroom grows on one of our inoculated logs.
It is comforting to me to know that even the tiniest, most delicate flowers can bloom in unfavorable conditions. I look forward to the spring when our forest becomes lush with greenery and life.
Until then, I will watch and wait as more and more plants come alive and blossom. Their vibrant colors will be restored one leaf and petal at a time.
Life begins all over again.
PS: So many of you have watched my Vampire music video, and I am SOOOO grateful!
I have put a TON of energy into this song and music video. It would mean the world to me if you can share it with friends and on social media. Here are links you can copy and paste:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/dagETLM1b78
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/music-video/vampire/1724655636
Tidal Video: https://tidal.com/browse/video/338777907
You can hear my new song, Vampire, on every major streaming platform including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Tidal.
Give it a listen, share it, and add it to a playlist if you want. Search for Roqué Marcelo or visit any of the following links:
Spotify
Apple Music
Tidal
Amazon Music
Deezer
Other music sites where you can hear it include Anghami, MediaNet, Boomplay, Instagram/Facebook, Adaptr, Flo, iHeartRadio, Claro Música, iTunes, Joox, KKBox, Kuack Media, NetEase, Qobuz, Pandora, Saavn, Tencent, TikTok/TikTok Music/Resso/Luna, and Yandex Music (beta).
This week, I spent a little time at a place called Chinkapin Craftstead. Since I work for this small and local nonprofit part-time, I have been there a lot, but this has been the first time this year I got to be there on an unseasonably warm and sunny day. (I have been at home a lot due to the cold weather.) I walked on the new little second bridge we just built over the creek, and I saw tiny buds waiting to burst in some of the trees. Before heading home, I stopped in the little library to see what treasures might be hiding there. Each corner of this land is as charming as ever. I love when a familiar and beloved place feels new again.
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