I have been inspired by Robin, a woman who describes herself as “a photographer, mom, grandma, wife, and occasional traveler living in the secondary snowbelt of northeast Ohio.” She is currently involved in a 365 commitment to get outside every day, learning a lot by walking some of the same paths on a daily basis.
I read her post (the link is here 216: A visit from the Green Man) and decided that as part of my “Post-a-Week” commitment that I would comment on her lovely description of the Green Man visiting her area. What delightful images sprang into my mind as I read about the beauty of the northern hemisphere springtime.
I haven’t been too successful with my “Post-a-Week”, this being only my second for May and the last was on the 1st!! However, I will work at turning that around in June. And here is my response to Robin’s wonderful post.
Here in the southern hemisphere the Wintersmith has already begun to touch the countryside with his icy fingers. Whereas Robin spoke of new life and the Green Man, I am looking out over the bright yellows, oranges and deep crimsons of autumn. Even though most Australian native plants are evergreen, we have many exotic trees in our area and the vibrant splashes of autumn colour make this a beautiful time of the year.
The day I first decided to write this post we had snow in our local hills!! This is very, VERY unusual and made us realise that the Wintersmith has decided to visit early and with an uncommonly heavy hand.
The callistemons are flowering. We have a few native plants that flower in winter, adding extra colour to those vibrant autumn leaves. Because there are so few flowers around now, these bright red bottle-brushes attract the honey-eaters and wrens and so my garden is alive with twittering, flitting little visitors.
The bigger birds – magpies, currawongs, kookaburras – are here in force too and are very happy to accept any tidbits that I put out on the deck for them. They sing and warble with delight.
Looking east I see the rainbows over the hills and hear the chorus of frog-song as they relish the rain that we are receiving at last, after such a long time in drought. All the local dams are full to overflowing and the paddocks emerald-green for the first time in many years.
The views that I can see contrast the observations that Robin has made in her northern spring and yet, in some ways there are so many similarities. I too have found the fairies in my garden are a little camera-shy, but I can see their presence in the toadstool fairy-rings scattered about my front garden. The green paddocks, the bird life, the frogs, these are the things that exist in both places at this time of the year.
Like Robin, I have been coaxed away from in front of my nice, warm fire to step outside and observe the wonders of nature. No matter whether you are coming into the warmth of summer or the cool of winter, Mother Nature always has some beautiful, unexpected treasure to offer and all we have to do is wonder at her kindness in sharing her creations with us.
