There’s more happening than meets the eye.
One of my favourite things about spring is discovering just how much can change in a relatively short period.
Every day seems to bring something new to notice.
While we’re eagerly awaiting the arrival of our first flowers, there’s already plenty happening throughout the established gardens and orchard areas at Earth Rhythms.
Flowers and fruit are beginning to appear on our Mulberry along with our potted Lemon and Lime trees, and the Grape Vines and Olive trees.
Some of these plants were already growing here when we arrived, while others accompanied us or we brought after our arrival and they have been patiently waiting in pots.
It’s wonderful to see them moving into another stage of their seasonal cycles.
Meanwhile, our newly planted herbs are only just beginning their journeys.
Tiny Skullcap and Lemon Mint seedlings are breaking through the soil, while our Celosia, Gomphrena and Yarrow are also making their first appearances.
Our Zinnias and second plantings of Sunflowers are considerably further along, and we’re eagerly anticipating the color they’ll eventually bring to our gardens.
Elsewhere, the Wisteria has been putting on its spring display, our Tea Trees have been flowering and the Dogwoods are producing their fresh foliage.
As we prepare some of our existing garden rows to become flower beds, we’re also trying to save as many of the established plants growing there as we can. Many of the Quinces, Forsythia, Tea Trees, Smokebush and Dogwoods have already weathered the drought, and it seems such a shame to lose plants that have proven just how resilient they can be.
Instead, we’re carefully digging them up and relocating them around the boundaries of the property, where they’ll help us create stronger hedgerows, provide more privacy and eventually become part of the framework surrounding our new gardens.
We’re also taking cuttings from some, including the Tea Trees, to propagate as a little insurance in case not every plant copes with being moved.
I love that creating these new flower gardens doesn’t have to mean clearing away everything that was here before. Wherever we can, we’re working with what we already have — preserving it, propagating it and simply finding it a new place to grow.
Perhaps possibility isn’t always about beginning again. Sometimes it’s about recognising the strength in what has already survived and giving it somewhere new to flourish.
And, of course, there’s plenty of activity amongst our local wildlife.
The bees have been enjoying our flowering plants, while butterflies have been particularly attracted to the beautiful pink Pigface flowers growing around the property.
It’s easy to become so focused on what we’re waiting for that we overlook everything already happening around us.
I know I’m eagerly anticipating the day our flower beds are filled with Zinnias, Cosmos, Dahlias and Sunflowers.
But when I wander around the property, camera in hand, I’m reminded that there’s already so much to appreciate.
The tiniest seedling emerging from the soil.
The promise of fruit on an established tree.
A bee visiting a flower.
The changing light across the garden.
The first storm of the season (our first since moving) brewing.
Nature reminds us that every season offers something worth noticing, even when we’re still waiting for what comes next.
And perhaps that’s one of spring’s loveliest lessons.
There’s beauty in anticipation, but there’s also beauty in everything happening right now.
A Little Reflection
What are you looking forward to at the moment?
And while you’re waiting for it to arrive, what beautiful things might already be happening around you?
Take a moment today to notice one small thing you might otherwise have overlooked.
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