The Green Growth Spurt Happening Outside

Spring always brings changes. However, after our long winter and the worldwide issues of the past couple of years, this spring has felt especially fresh and appreciated. As the daylight hours lengthen and green stretches out all around us, the quality of light changes: it brightens as the days grow longer.

Right now, after the magical time of blossoms, the trees and shrubs are putting out their foliage at an ever-quickening pace. Like people, each tree grows to its own tempo. Some sprout early, while others, like Honey Locusts and White Oaks, leaf out later.

Many paper artists have been inspired by foliage and inflorescences. Japanese stationery is abundant in spring imagery, especially sakura, the cherry blossom. The arts and crafts movement referenced many flowers, including tulips and irises. Katie Leamon's floral prints include springtime anemones and poppies.

It's the changing of seasons that cleanses our palette and makes us excited about each new flower that arrives this time of year. There's an abundance of colour, shapes, and sizes. The tiny bells of lily-of-the-valley, whose perfume beckons you to crouch down, to the fragrant lilacs, who have you sniffing upward on your tip-toes. Then there're the plants that look great from a distance - azaleas and rhododendrons make a big impact with their profusion of blooms, often in a shady area.

Spring mornings can be the most exciting time of the year to get up early, make a cup of tea or coffee and head out into the garden. Each day is different. Rather than doing any work or chores, it's the perfect time to simply observe. To appreciate the uplifting, promising morning light. The birdsong. That fresh scent of soil, lawn and bulbs. No matter what else is going on in the world, at this moment, all is well in my peaceful garden.

In this mid-to-late spring garden period, we see a mix of things finishing up as new plants have their time to shine. There's also the variety of growth rates we see. While leucojum and Solomon's seal pop up and bloom quickly, we watch the alliums, peonies, clematis and roses slowly stretch, swell up and unfold over days and even weeks.

 

As wonderful as it is to have our own private garden, it's also a pleasure to share it with others. Next week, we'll be discussing the return of garden tours.

Until then, we wish you many magical mornings (and afternoons, and evenings) amongst the spring bulbs and blossoms.