What I have been watching for years was spring as humans made it. This year, I’m experiencing spring as God made it.
For most of my life, I marked the progress of spring by its blooms. First came the crocuses of February and the daffodils of March, followed, in quick succession, by the tulips and hyacinth, the lilac and flowering cherry and the saucer magnolias. Later, the azaleas would explode in a pink and red riot — and, before long, the peonies would unfurl to proclaim the approach of summer. Each arrival announced itself with a spectacular burst of color and, often, a sweet perfume that filled the yard.
They are notoriously difficult to cultivate, hard to transplant and even harder to grow from seeds. It can take seven years from the time a trillium seed is planted to the appearance of just one of its three-petal flowers. Ephemerals are finicky and fussy plants, growing only in forests and typically near streams. They aren’t as bold and colorful as garden-variety flowers, and most don’t even have a scent. You won’t spot spring ephemerals from your car window with an “ooh” and an “ah.
The spring ephemerals are connected as well to the animals in the forest. The queen bee needs her Dutchman’s breeches. The mayapple spreads through the poop of box turtles, who, within their digestive tracts, prepare the seeds to germinate. Bloodroot is spread by ants, who carry off a tasty part of the plant called the elaiosome and then discard the seeds. The trout lily and spring beauty rely on solitary bees for pollinating. The wild columbine depends on hummingbirds.
The first sign of trouble came when the guy at the tree farm told me I’d need a 26-foot moving truck to pick up my trees. The second sign came when I learned that the root balls, 18 inches deep and 24 inches wide, weigh some 300 pounds each. I panicked and tried to scale back my order. The guy at the nursery said they had already dug up the trees for me; there was no backing out.
There had to be an easier way — and there was. My next 15 trees came from Hill House Nursery in Castleton, Va. Two or three feet tall and in one- and two-gallon pots, they were easy to plant. The hard part was putting up the cages to keep the deer from devouring them — and now watering them once a week. I’m told that in a few years they will have caught up to the bagged-and-burlap trees that just about broke my back.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
His Lips to God's Ears: Tired of WinningMimi Kennedy is an actress and activist on the Board of Progressive Democrats of America.
Read more »
'SNL' host Ramy Youssef asks God to 'free the people of Palestine' and 'all the hostages'Youssef notched several of the night's best moments in his first outing as 'SNL' host, including an immigrant dads gag and a faux commercial for 'Ozempic for Ramadan.'
Read more »
Bishop Strickland to Newsmax: Remember God Is With UsBishop Joseph Strickland, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 and is formerly of Tyler, Texas, shared insights on the significance of the Holy Triduum during an appearance on Newsmax Saturday.
Read more »
Vampire Weekend’s “Only God Was Above Us,” ReviewedAmanda Petrusich on a new album from the band, fronted by Ezra Koenig, featuring the songs “Capricorn,” “Classical,” “Gen-X Cops,” and “Mary Boone.”
Read more »
Fox News Host Spouts Anti-Trans God-Replacement Theory On EasterRon Dicker is a general assignment reporter at HuffPost. He has covered sports, entertainment and many other beats in his journalism career, and has lived in New York City for more than 20 years.
Read more »
Vampire Weekend's 'Only God Was Above Us' review: A frenetic ode to New YorkAmerican rock band Vampire Weekend return with their most challenging record to date, “Only God Was Above Us.” The AP's Scott Bauer says it's like a musical shot of adrenaline, but its rewards are worth working to discover. It just takes repeated and close listens to get there.
Read more »