our azalea blossoms today

This time of year, for a few days, the azaleas blossoms in our front yard are really wonderful.

But they’re so private!  From the street, they look like big, neglected bushes. But from the house, they’re sort of amazing.

 

So today, when I was going to get in my car, I stopped and took a quick stroll around half of our circle driveway and make a little iPhone video.

Voila!

a hint of dogwood

dogwood blossom
a hint of dogwood blossom

A rainy Sunday morning — March 27 — and seeing the first of the dogwood blossoms in my front yard.

When we first moved into this house, 24 years ago, the dogwoods gave us quite a show each year as March gave way to April.

Now, they’re old and gnarly and losing steam.  Some of the largest in the bunch have died.

Dogwoods have a short lifespan.  They live about as long as a human being.

I don’t have any grandchildren (yet), so I’m thinking about planting a few new dogwood trees, taking care of my body, and trying to live long enough to see the show again.

In the meantime, I’ll appreciate the fullness up and down the street — and continue to love and enjoy these old trees in my yard.  They’re doing the best they can.

if spring

if the truth of spring
is a blossom so bright

that purple turns gray
when the sky is too blue

and the tree that trades
its height for color

while green gives motion
to trunk too old

then you are the same
when winter leaves

and i am the rain
when you feel sun