It isn't often in life that we encounter perfection, and it seems even less likely around here, where things rarely go smoothly. So any small bits of perfection are treasured all the more, savored and dwelled upon. There should be three clumps of these Sanguinaria 'Multiplex, but the squirrels dug them all up last summer. Fortunately, all three plants survived their trauma, but only one has bloomed. I captured this photo Friday morning. By Saturday, the secondary bud had also bloomed. Now, after 24 hours of very heavy weather, this is all gone, the flowers shattered and the petals spread across the ground.Why is it, in spring, that times seems to go much faster than during any other season? In winter, time just drags, and in summer, one tires of the heat, humidity, and mosquitoes, and keeps checking the calendar. Autumn goes a bit faster than winter and summer, but nowhere near as quickly as spring. It's already the end of April, too late to start the seeds of some plants, too late for the Morton Arboretum plant sale (which I missed). One can almost see the trees leafing out, and the Daffodils and Pulmonaria are budding and blooming in a day. Already we've had a high temperature in the 80s.
I feel like shouting to the skies, Slow down! I need more time to enjoy my favorite season, instead of spending it all working. But that would be pointless, and so I treasure each little of gift of each perfect moment.
25 comments:
Time stands still for no one, they say. I feel the need in the spring to be out in my garden as much as possible so I don't miss anything. Even from hour to hour, it seems to change!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
And too much heat in spring really speeds it up. We are getting the same temps in the 80s and I feel like I am getting robbed of spring, flowers (such as daffodils) that should last for a week, over in a day.
I just don't know if I can add one more thing to my garden. Yet, I see these and read your post and listen to all of you talk about these fleeting little beauties. Just what I need: another plant addiction.
It does seem as though spring is either as cold and dreary as winter or as hot as summer. There seem to be very few days that are really spring like. But I suppose all the more reason to take the time to enjoy each moment- however fleeting. I know I enjoyed seeing the perfection in your garden.
MMD, I hear you and feel your frustration... I would like my garden to have the long season of bloom is used to have before April started to feel like July! So I will go out in the garden as often as I can and as you said "treasure each little of gift of each perfect moment".
Gail
I swear my sharp-leaf Hepatica and black cohosh came up overnight!!! The severe rains mostly missed us. Even my uncovered winter-sown seedlings are OK (knock wood). Spring is indeed fickle, but maybe it's its very fleeting and dynamic nature that makes it special. (We had hail the other day.)
this is the first time I have seen Sanguinaria 'Multiplex. What a gorgeous flower it is.
MMD, I'd never seen this blossom before. It IS so pretty. I also caught sight of your V. Bluebells!! (and someone's very cute stepping stone) :-)
The multiplex are soooo beutiful!
Im so glad that I have it at last. It have been on the wishinglist for ages.
Linda
What a lovely plant - I havent come across this before
If spring lasted 6 months and summer another 4 months, I could stand fall and winter 2 months. I would be a happy camper.. LOL it was 86 yesterday and going to be 88 today, MY KIND OF WEATHER...
I have that feeling too... heavy rains ripped tulip petals off too soon. I have a tree peony that just came into bloom and they are super-fleeting!
A very cool-looking flower! I've never grown spring ephemerals because I'm sure I'd get busy at the wrong time and miss them entirely. I would need them to text me - "Hey, we're flowering, come see!"
Spring is a frustrating season, and of course April is the cruelest month. We had hail on Saturday, not a lot, just enough to beat my species tulips about their heads and make them droop.
Slow down is right! We had less than a week between our last frost and 90 degrees and no rain! No fair for the diligent gardeners. You are so right about the other seasons, especially winter dragging on so too. The bloodroot is absolutely beautiful and your photo of it exquisite. So far nothing from the seeds you sent, but they are still outside in the pot, and I am still hopeful that someday they might germinate.
Frances
MMD, I couldn't agree more! I am enjoying all my beautiful tulips, even as the daffodils and hyacinths have faded away. The flowering trees have suddenly burst into bloom, but the strong winds we've had, and now the rain, make me wonder how long those blooms will last on the trees. "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may...!"
I'm so glad ypu captured that fleeting moment for us all to share MMD. Like you, I wish spring would slow down a bit - too much to see and too much to do. Perhaps it's that conflict that makes spring feel so manic?
I also agree with you totally about your plant naming rant. So here's a Bah! from me in sympathy!
And I never knew you had The Teletubbies over there. What we get to learn from blog reading! And I've happily consigned them to the dustbin of forgetfulness too ;)
Isn't this the truth. Spring seems ephemeral.
We almost hit 80 this week too. It's gonna' slow down a bit though-in the 50s this weekend–more normal for the season. Though the shot of warmth and overnight rains has everything bursting in the garden!
Glad I went away for a week two weeks ago. Had I been gone this past week, I'd have missed our entire spring.
Amen! You echo (but way more succinctly, and very prettily) the sentiment in my latest, almost-finished post.
I spend so long complaining about the long dark days of winter that I suddenly find I'm well into spring without realising it - then suddenly I blink and spring has gone.
I'm sure there must be a scientific theory explaining how time goes faster on light days and slower on dull days. There has got to be a reason :-)
Luckily my squirrels prefer the bird feeders to the Sanguinaria!
I feel the same as you about the fleeting nature of Spring. And this year it seem to be going especially fast.
Well, our Iowa weather slowed down after Friday, didn't it? 40 degrees cooler on Saturday than on Friday. Lovely photo.
Boy is that ever the truth. One can almost hear everything stretching and growing. It was fun to see the fleeting perfection in your yard. Thanks, dear.~~Dee
That bloodroot is wonderful and now you have a picture of perfection to treasure. Time, it goes and we can only try to enjoy those moments like you did with the bloom and all your gardening.
Hi MMD,
I agree wholeheartedly with your observations ... for us too, Spring is such a manic time racing to get things planted in time. Some days just need to be spent observing and savoring the fruits of our (never ending it seems) garden labors.
I'm hoping the rains here will let up soon so we can actually enjoy the tulips which are on the cusp of blooming and we don't want to see them stripped of their petals like your poor little Sanguinaria.
Green with envy about your Bluebells! I wish our little stand would multiply faster!
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