Awakening

With these warmer and longer days, Nature awakens from her winter's sleep.
That's what I love about the seasons, there is always something new to enjoy.

Snowdrops are one of the first flowers to appear,
real harbingers of spring getting ready underneath the nurturing soil.

Wild anemone emerging from the depths of last year's fallen leaves.

Primroses are also early spring flowers. I found these growing out of a very tiny crack in a wall.
I love it when plants find a place to grow when there is seemingly no visible earth.

Sweet violets that I remember picking as a child and putting them into the smallest
thimble-sized vases!


Last year's fern has developed new green leaves, perfect for yet another crack in a wall.

Crocus are just everywhere. I saw these in the park.

Many little pale purple heads hiding an astonishing orange centre.

The buds are positively swelling and some young leaves are bursting forth

It's a little early for blossom still, but these were growing in a sunny spot.

At last!
The golden daffodil
just starting to open down in the park.

Crossing the foot bridge near me at the start of one of my outings, 
this beautiful Siamese cat. He was sitting on a pile of branches looking up at the people
passing on the bridge.

Among all these colourful and cheerful spring blooms,
 I noticed these dried hydrangea flowers and thought how beautiful they looked
against the pale blue sky.

***

A few words on awakening:
"Since ancient times, the term awakening has been used as a kind of metaphor
that points to the transformation of human consciousness,
The word Buddha comes from the Sanskrit word Budh,
meaning 'to be awake'.
So Buddha is not a name and ultimately not a person,
but a state of consciousness"


words by Eckhart Tolle


16 comments

  1. Such beautiful signs of spring! I love love that last shot.

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    1. thank you, Fi! I love that dried hydrangea against the sky also and felt it to be part of what spring is also about.

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  2. We are in the middle of a snow storm!

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    1. So you can feast your eyes on my flowers while you wait for yours to start blooming!

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  3. Dear Sandra,
    these pictures are sooo lovely - would be perfect as postcards!
    It's good to see spring is coming about, isn't ist?
    Have a great day,
    Marjan

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    1. I agree, Marjan. It's just wonderful to see these first signs of spring!It's suddenly all happening and it won't be long before the flowering bushes burst forth! Thank you for your visit!

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  4. These have me longer for our own spring flowers. We had a tiny return of winter this week, but next week looks more promising.

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    1. Hi Sarah! Yes, I heard about extensive snowfalls in some parts of the world, but usually the spring snow doesn't last long and you will have all your spring flowers to look forward to!

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  5. Spring is definitely popping out! The flowers on my bushes and flowering trees are gone. Way to much wind and heavy rain for them to survive! I'm hoping to enjoy spring at a woodland garden next week. It all depends on the rain!

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    1. Yes, Cathy. Beautiful spring is well on its way and every day there are new buds opening. I love it! I hope your woodland garden will be lovely!

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  6. A wonderful spring bouquet (along with that sweet kitty!). Lovely photos and a great spring message! All our early spring flowers have bloomed and are all gone. Spring flowers come and go so quickly!

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    1. Thank you for your visit, Mary! This is just the very beginning of our spring and it has come early because of the above averages temperatures for the time of year. Many of the flowering bushes and a few trees are only just starting to bloom, the fruit trees will not be until later. I like to get out as much as I possibly can to enjoy it all to the full!

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  7. A most beautiful state of consciousness! And what a sweet blue eyed friend you found! I'm looking forward to getting out more once all the snow melts.

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    1. Yes, that furry friend with blue eyes was in the same spot on two different days as I left for my walk. He was so wonderfully enigmatic - and beautiful, of course!

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  8. Every time I visit- I learn something! Now I know about Buddha what it really means. And the flowers are so lovely - you take beautiful photos Sandra! Love this post!

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    1. So nice to see you here! Thank you for your comment. The flowers really are lovely this spring and I love capturing their fragile beauty when they bloom each year.

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