April 1, 2020
Sheltering, day 9
Japanese maple flowers tell us that it’s time for the spring dance.
“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.”
― Pablo Neruda
“Spring dances with joy in every flower and in every bud letting us know that changes are beautiful and an inevitable law of life.” ― Debasish Mridha
We watched for weeks as the large Japanese maple (ilex palmatum ‘bloodgood’) went from bare winter limbs to leaf buds. We rejoiced when we saw the tiny leaf buds start to open. We admired the beautiful burgundy red leaves as they opened and clothed the tree for the celebration of spring.
And, then yesterday…
Yesterday, Milady looked at me and said,
“Look at the flowers.”
All plants (except for ferns) make flowers. Some of the flowers are insignificant, but if you look for them, you will find them.
The Japanese maple tree has flowered. Next it will make seeds. I found out once, after much experimentation, that if you harvest the seeds at the right time, allow them to dry until fall, plant them in some good potting soil, and leave them out in the cold and rain all winter, they most likely will grow into baby trees the following spring. They wait patiently until the time is right.
When the time is right this year, I’m sure that we will enjoy a second spring.
Everything is going to be all right.
—john schulz
John P. Schulz: Find The Living Room 