On The Lookout For Spring
Spring is a time of quick change, and for me, spring is described most by the changes in trees. Several warm days in March will cause the magnolias to burst open almost overnight. And before long, those large white and pink petals have littered a large perfect circle under the tree. Quick blooming cherry blossoms stay on the trees for mere days before they give way to young bright green leaves. And we count the days anticipating the subtle opening of each ivory flower on the craggy old dogwoods. Pay attention every day or the progression of spring will pass by without you ever noticing.
It's not just the passage of time that causes change, spring also varies greatly by type of tree and location. Long after the magnolias and cherry’s are fully covered in leaves, the hickories still stand bare, casting skeleton shadows on fresh green grass and dandelions. Drive seventy miles south on an early spring day and it's as if you've driven two weeks into the future. Leave home on a beautiful spring morning and drive to your favorite mountaintop for a hike and it will look like spring has not yet even arrived! If you plan your visits well, you can give yourself extra weeks of this magical season.
On a recent spring morning I went to Hawk Mountain and walked the trails. It was not yet spring at the ridge top... but when I stood on the overlooks, I could see the progression of spring in the trees, making its way from the valley floor up the side of the mountain. It was like a still image of time travel - documented by the trees of spring. Trees in different stages of budding with many shades of yellow, orange, green and sometimes red caught my attention as they climbed the mountain side.
Don’t get distracted or turn your eye for even a minute... or you will miss much.