Nature keeps us focused

This Tamora rose wins the title of first full-size rose to bloom in Debbie's garden this year. (Photos:  Debbie Arrington)

Flower photos chronicle garden; share some virtual blooms

By Debbie Arrington

How are you celebrating spring?

Nature has not slowed down during our home-bound shutdown. Instead, she’s full steam ahead, popping out flowers and pushing out green leaves. Everything seems to be growing rapidly, as you’d expect during a “normal” spring.

Clivia loves the shade. 

While taking this forced timeout from life as usual, this is a good time to get in touch with your garden. Enjoy the slowdown and take notes about what’s growing. If you haven’t already, start a garden journal, jotting down when things sprout, flower, harvest dates and more.

Or just take photos. Make a visual record of what’s blooming when. Then, share those cellphone snapshots with your friends by email or social media as virtual bouquets.

It’s amazing how many smiles you can multiply with a pretty plant photo.

A dear friend, Jan Burke, started doing this snap-and-post exercise during an extremely stressful time in her life, gathering snapshots of flowers on her daily walk. Since then, she’s posted hundreds of flower photos to Facebook as daily pick-me-ups that are always well-received by her wide circle of friends. They always make me feel better.

As a gardener, I also appreciate the visual evidence the flower photos offer. For example, I know for certain that Tamora, an Austin shrub rose, was in bloom March 20 – first full-size rose in my garden this spring – and I have the photo to prove it.

Last weekend, I went through my garden, snapping photos of every flowering example, big or small. I came up with quite a list, including some that are blooming extra early and others that seem late.

Narcissus looks so cheery, even on cloudy days.

Two other roses, both minis, joined Tamora in bloom. My list also includes: angel’s trumpet, azaleas, begonias, camellias, calla lily, cymbidium, clivia, crassula, crocosmia, freesias, geraniums, grape hyacinths, hellebores, lilacs, narcissuses, dwarf quince, strawberries and white wood violets.

Next week, that list will be much longer. Nature will keep us focused on small joys and the positives in life.

What's blooming in your garden? Show us. Send us your snapshots and we'll share with our garden community, too.