New Way to Go: New Things to See

Spring is only inching its way toward us. The blossomed trees and shrubs are out but the leaves on the trees are only mild buds and have not yet popped. I took a different route to my new workplace to see what sights I might see. A display of spring blossoms including forsythia and cherry tree.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Spring Blossoms

Splash of Spring: 70 Dozen Bulbs

Mom passed away last year. She and her mom loved flowers. I had started the bed years ago in a remembrance when my Aunt Elaine, mom's college roommate, and an artist, had passed away in North Carolina. Aunt Elaine had disappeared on her 77th birthday in the summer months. Instituting this flower bed was a way for me to think of her throughout the winter with the hope that we would find her. Her remains were found the following spring.

I took the time to grieve for Mom this past year by refreshing the corner flower garden by the old stone wall with seventy dozen bulbs. Have been taking lots of pictures to capture the emergence and profusion of color.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Seventy Dozen

There are fond and deep-felt memories of the beauty and compassion and caring of these ladies special to my heart. Hope springs eternal as new life emerges on an annual basis. Aaah, me!

Contrast: A Spring Dandy Against Winter's Bark

I take a ten-minute walk to and from lunch each day at the new job. Nice to get my salad greens. The fresh air and sunshine, if we have it, does me good in the mid-day. The air has mostly remained brisk though. I am picking up a bit of color in my face and along the way. I selected a weedy dandelion from the sidewalk and smelled it's winter abandon.

It brought back an early memory. And reminded me of my Mom in the happy-go-lucky days of childhood play. The first rural New England farmhouse we lived in had an abundance of stubby, wild chamomile. Mowing the lawn or pinching the stems and flowers between your fingers would release the fragrance of apple blossoms.

Internet Fair Use - Wild Chamomile with Apple Blossom Scent

My smartphone camera didn't auto-focus well when I tried to capture the dandelion flower against open space. And it retained a lot of glare. So I put the bright color against a dark tree trunk and got better contrast and detail. The yellow reflects against the blue-grey-green-violet of the woody surfaced-lichen. It helps to have the stark contrast of winter's bark to highlight a Spring fancy.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Spring Dandy Against Winter's Bark

It is a more solemn and deep enjoyment of Springtime warmth when the Winter has been long and frigid. Soaking it up on a Daily Walk. And reminiscing.

Emerging Spring: Blackbirds in the Marsh Grass

Spring is inching towards us here in the Northeast. My new job offers the shortest commute I have had in my career. Twelve miles and 25 minutes. Along the way, some abandoned farmland along the road had some tall marsh grass. It made me think of another past employer where the first birds of Spring, the blackbirds, would flock and twitter in the grass.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Blackbirds in the Marsh Grass

The palette is still a winter one and drab. The snow is gone from the landscape but not my mind. I haven't yet warmed up.