Wisteria floribunda gently stirs…youthful fragrance…mature strength.
Imagine
late April
Northern hemisphere
Spring moisture
17 degrees centigrade
cloudless sky
mid morning
faint breeze…
…just enough to stir these sweet fragrances
and you will have no doubt…
as you gently and deeply inhale…
A mature spring is about.
***Warning Hate Inside***
When I was a kid, my dad used to send me out in the front yard lawn, early spring, saying, “Get rid of the dandelions—and get out all the roots, too.”
Never, I never won that battle. Always more dandelions and always more vociferous exhortations from my dad.
Dandelion hate. Part of my childhood.
Well, I’ve grown up and now live in a new neighborhood.
And by golly did I have fun yesterday glorifying in the 500 meters above sea level central Switzerland landscape—dancing with the dandelions.
A sea, waves of dandelions in all their floriferous glory. Dancing away my hate.
Dandelions…no matter how seen,
Glowing with energy,
The light of the field.
I’m sure they have forgiven me.
The dandelion landscape…er…seascape.
Dancing dandelions
Dandelion bounce–it’s fun
Dandelion threesome
Dandelion dominatrix
Northern range of the Swiss Alps.
Last third of April–lots of spring flowers–violets going by–winter clothes put away–boom–spring snow showers.
Violas, violet, over oak.
Snow showers–normal April the locals say.
Snow flakes–dancing and jolly as if they are enjoying the joke.
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About this time of year, the early spring on the northern slope of the Swiss Alps in the Jungfrau Region–as the grasses first turn a full green, as the first wild primroses bloom, as the forsythia and magnolias bloom, the farmers bring out the sheep and cows–the bells and their random mystical ringing. At this same time a unique spring melody plays as the sparrows and the blackbirds greet the animals and the warmer sunny days.
If you try, you can almost add this photo plus the bird song to discover the briefest moment of fresh, sweet, spring air in the Swiss Alps.
The spring wild flowers in homeowners’ lawns speak Easter to my memories.
Between the mountain air and those flowering plants is an aura that feeds and frees my creative synapses. Absolutely amazing.
Some people might call it a ‘natural high’ but no. Whatever it is, it inspires, it energizes and encourages the freedom that is the base of creative thoughts, words and deeds.
The airs are important. On the highest and northernmost massif of the Swiss Alps, the airs flow down, mingled with the airs of the plants and earth, otherwise undisturbed, from 4,000 meters (above sea level) over the surfaces of broad lakes into and among the gardens of the villages at 600 meters.
Springtime rains mix air and earth…life begins to stir.
This diverse mix of wild flowers bloom in that narrow window, just after the grasses green with life but before the grasses spurt with growth.
Veritable glens, even forests of delicate spring flowers invite walks of discovery.
And on the edge of civilisation where village garden meets mountain landscape…
Flowers, forest, animals, children, parents, play, nurture, gardens, landscape…
How can the beauty of spring become black and white and retain its ethereality?
The same but different. We have just to live it.
Yesterday
Tomorrow
…a south facing slope at 580 meters above sea level on the northern edge of the Swiss Alps…
As I leave civilization…
…it is not without trepidation that I travel, from my savoured highlands, down into the infamous 21st century cities of Western Europe.
I’ll be back.
Winter does not easily melt away to spring…
…but when it does…it does so beautifully.
Sliding past winter to spring. The pleasure present and the pleasure soon to come.
It may be winter; but, believe me, life still abounds.
As The Twilight Zone’s Rod Serling might have said: …a street in any town…
My two cents worth… What is at the heart of a comfortably walkable neighborhood?
1. Public ways that have human scale. Like the above.
Comment: Originally built before autos—but still able to accommodate wagons and animals. How can these be built today and meet your local and regional health and safety requirements? Maybe it is time to rethink health and safety requirements?
2. Social communities where people are truly respectful of neighbors. Like the above.
Comment: Where true respect exists, people do not worry about personal effects (see lower right above) being defaced or stolen. Or covered with graffiti and tags which often these days are the first signs of disrespectful neighbors.
Care for a walk?
