First, I wanted to apologize to my email subscribers for my last post’s (A Few of My Favorite Things) crazy formatting. The piece was fine on the website, but I didn’t size the photos correctly for the emailed version, which mucked the whole thing up. Another lesson learned along the way, which is an appropriate segue into today’s post.
I’ve been immersed in a tug-of-war with Mother Nature these past couple of weeks. On March 21st, one of the first warm days after an unusually cold and snowy winter here in Northern Virginia, I decided to chronicle the progress of a little cluster of forsythia buds in my back yard as part of my 365project.org photo a day challenge.
Though I didn’t have recorded data on when the forsythia normally bloomed in my garden, I was pretty certain that everything was way behind schedule because of the lower than average temperatures.
So when the sun finally came out the third week of March perfectly coordinated with the official calendar’s announcement of spring, I thought we were in the homestretch. I thought the forsythia buds would take about three days to bloom. Mother Nature (one of the universe’s many manifestations) does have a sense of humor. For a closer look at the photos, just click on the images.
Lessons Learned From the Bud Watch Chronicle
1) Spring happens. Despite our longer than usual winter, when it was warm enough to venture into the garden again these buds drenched in late afternoon sunlight reminded me that nature always moves forward.
2) Noticing the details along the way makes the journey richer. I saw no growth action on Day 2, but noticed other details, like those little bumps on the twig and the tightly woven pattern of the bud’s outer layers.
3) Celebrate tiny progress. Finally saw a very little bit of new growth sprouting from the tips on Day 3, more easily noticed if you compare it to Day 1.
4) Stop worrying about pleasing everyone else. On Day 4, my husband said, “Maybe you should just post these every other day. You’re in danger of losing your audience.” He also has trouble waiting in lines.
5) Expect set-backs. Snow on Day 5 seemed to make the bud shrink back into itself. I felt the same way.
6) Practice acceptance and non-resistance. No apparent movement on Day 6 provided an opportunity for that. Letting go of what I couldn’t change relaxed me.
7) Action isn’t everything. Though I did see a bit more growth on Day 7, what I really appreciated about this shot was the quality of the sunlight on the buds.
8) Some days will be boring. My caption for Day 8 was “Ho hum.
9) Rainy days can make things sparkle.
10) Some days you will question the universe’s intention. Day 10’s caption was “Seriously? More snow? Seriously?” I felt as weighed down as the buds.
11) Some days you will lose your compass. My branch marker disappeared on Day 11, probably due to the snow and driving rain of the previous couple of days. I stood very still and felt my way back to the right spot in the midst of three sprawling forsythia shrubs–found the same indentations for the tripod under the snow, the same branch hitting me in the face, the shrub itself whispering in my ear Here they are! The trick is clearing our heads enough to listen.
12) Tiny bits of progress each day add up to something big. Yellow petals were clearly visible on Day 12, proving that even on those days when I thought nothing was happening, subtle growth was still at work.
13) Sometimes you just need to take a step back. On Day 13 the buds had outgrown my original framing of the shot and I had to move the tripod back a few inches. Stepping back helped me see how far the buds had advanced.
14) Don’t get distracted by what the other buds are doing. Though the blossoms at the end of the twig just two inches away were blooming on Day 14, the stars of my show weren’t ready yet. I’m a late bloomer myself.
15) Find joy in every stage of the bloom, rather than focusing on when it will be “finished” (whatever that means). Day 15’s photo of the blossom finally opening was taken at 10 p.m. on April 4th, which just happened to be my 50th birthday. Coincidence? I think not.
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jindra says
I will never see a forsythia in the same way… thanks for sharing your inner view too dear. That was the real treat!
Martha says
Funny you should say so, Jindra. The forsythia shrub is much maligned in the gardening world as being not attractive enough, too garish a yellow, too old fashioned, too leggy, and on and on and on. The three forsythia in my back yard predate our arrival twenty years ago. Other than the cherry tree, they are the only current plants that have that claim to fame. Though they are by no means the most “interesting” or trendy plants in my garden, they’ve come to hold a special place in my heart as a 100 percent reliable harbinger of spring. xxoo Martha
Doris says
… no coincidence for sure ;-) it was the award for the patience and the birthday present
Martha says
Thanks so much, Doris! Always love to hear from you. I’m one of those people who believe there are no coincidences, so this was an especially nice gift. xxoo Martha
Mi Young says
Enjoyed your take on 15 Life Lessons Gleaned from Forsythia Bud especially # 1,2, and 13. We can apply these lessons to human relationships such as parenting or building friendship. It takes time and requires patience and it is not until we step back, move away or look back after years later that we see the true beauty. Happy belated birthday wish, Martha and welcome to the 50s. It is far better than previous decades in my opinion. Best is yet to come :).
Martha says
Lovely to hear from you, Mi Young, and thanks so much for the happy birthday wishes! I agree, time, patience and stepping back are all required to really appreciate life, beauty, friends, and forsythia bushes. I feel GREAT about turning 50. The way I look at it, this is just the beginning! xxoo Martha
Francine says
Appreciate your persistence. Glad you got to see the fruits of your labor on your actual birthday.
Martha says
Thanks a bunch, Francine. As you know so well from your triathlon training, the key is to just show up, day after day (after day after day). :-)
Athena says
Martha, I just loved this forsythia tale!
Martha says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Athena. Thanks for the visit! xxoo Martha
Tammy R says
Beautiful lessons, Martha, and so cleverly written. Happy belated birthday. I hope it was as beautiful as this bloom!
Martha says
Tammy! Thrilled to hear from you, which is yet another gift from the forsythia. My birthday was, indeed, perfectly wonderful. Thanks for the warm wishes and kind words about the post. Hope you and that wacky husband of yours are happy and healthy (I miss your blog posts!). ~ Martha
Mia Gardiner says
Martha – I just loved this budding journey! The only drawback was that it made me go on facebook every day (something I had promised myself not to do) because I wanted to follow the progress ! At about day 10 it occurred to me that the buds were going to bloom on your 50th birthday. So glad they did. Enjoyed your 15 day commentary too. Now eager to see what is next.
Love, Mia
Martha says
Thanks so much, Mia. I had fun writing this one! The photo project also gave me more appreciation for nature photographers who feed their families with their photographs. Even though I was only walking a few steps out into my back yard, and I knew just what I was shooting (except for the day when the marker disappeared), the weather and uncertainty about the bud’s slow progress made it more daunting than I had expected. Thanks for your encouragement! xxoo Martha
Carol Cohen says
Martha, what a great post. I can relate.
Thanks.