I am always delighted with the first flowers of spring.
I must touch them and talk to them.
Thanking them for surviving and showing up again.
Happy to see their colorful faces.
No matter how small,
I love them all.
FLOW
First Flowers
Author: Flower Roberts
Through the Roof
I have had to be away from home more than usual.
I spent months constructing a “Coyote Cage” inside the bunny pen so they would be safe.
I close it up at night when the bunnies go inside so that no wildlife can get in and poop.
I never leave out water or food.
When I escorted them out this morning, I noticed the fencing in the gate had been pushed out.
Something had been trapped in during the night and forced its way out.
It was either the stray cat that has been lurking about, or one of our raccoon neighbors.
I found where it had fallen through the roof.
Now I must shore up the roof and the gate before I leave today.
Too much to do, too little time.
I’m about to go through the roof!
FLOW
Fern Fiddles
The first fern fiddles are emerging from the ground.
The Japanese Holly fern, Cyrtomium falcatum, is always first.
Fronds are specialized leaves growing from underground stems.
They roll out from the base to protect the tiny new leaflets.
Other protection involves scales which drop off after the young fronds emerge.
They are also covered by hairs for defense.
Once these fronds mature, they will be tough enough not to need scales and hairs.
Mature fronds produce spores on their undersides for reproduction.
Here are spots where sporangia were last season. The spores have been released.
I find fern fronds fascinating.
FLOW
Tete a Tete Twins
I love anything blooming right now.
Yellow flowers are like spots of sunlight in the garden.
All daffodils are appreciated, but I do have a favorite.
The Tete a Tete bulbs form little bouquets.
They look this way because they have short stems
and because some stems hold twins.
This habit makes the bunch look like a bouquet.
Two cute is too cute!
Flower
A Herd in the Yard
When the green shoots up the deer show up.
A pine fell and knocked down the fence around the green patch.
They started there for a snack.
Then the herd moved down the bank to the daylilies.
The big one in the front knows me.
I waved to her as she posed for my camera.
Time to fence in the expensive stuff.
I try to deter the deer, although they are dear.
FLOW
Snow White and Rose Red
My two Camellia japonicas blooming has reminded me of a fairy tale,
Snow White and Rose Red (Schneettweichen und Rosenrot).
My sister and I had some relation to this story.
She was a redhead and I a blond.
That is where the link ends…I hope.
As with most fairy tales,
the good little girls turn the monster (bear) into a prince and marry him and his brother.
Mothers, let’s rewrite these PLEASE.
Leave in the good and kind,
but change the reward to a self-fulfilling ending instead of a wedding.
(No offense Princes.)
Flow
Our Book is Not About Flowers
If you know of a child who has epilepsy, their family may benefit from our book.
This has been decades in the making. It follows my daughter’s journey with epilepsy from diaper to dorm room.
I wrote it for parents. Ours was a lonely journey with many twists. I want to help other parents who are trying to raise a child with this disorder.
It is full of personal stories and insights…but not flowers.
Maybe my next book will be about gardening.
Flower/Seizure Mama
Fungus Flowers
All it takes is rain for the fungus flowers to appear.
Even in winter, the bonnets bloom.
Perched on stalks like tiny parasols.
Raised only inches high to open their tops
and stretch out their gills
to spread their spores
to sow some more
fungus flowers.
Flow
Season Lessons
I appreciate the snow because I know I will miss its whiteness and brightness.
I celebrate in the white confetti falling and clinging to everything.
I listen to the rain with a glad heart.
I will miss its cool drops in the heat of August.
I wish the warmth of summer could stay in my bones through the chill of winter.
Each season has its lessons of gratefulness and faithfulness.
During winter, I have faith in spring.
I know that in the soggy, cold soil are future flowers.
Snowdrops, crocus, scilla, narcissus and tulips.
I know because I put them there. I planned for spring.
I believed in spring during a crisp and colorful fall many years ago.
Even in the cold, dark winter. I have faith in spring.
Everybody needs some spring in their heart.
HAPPY VALENTINE’s DAY
Flower
