Growing

New life. There's always a bit of the miraculous about it, whether it be human, plant, or animal. For the nature-lover who lives in a land that is winter-bound several months each year, few things are more exciting than the first tiny outbursts of spring growth.

Some look like exotic green flowers:

Or miniature totems bearing pom-poms:

Or wee heads of lettuce dotted along a twig:

Some are upstanding, airy and delicate:

And some, sturdy and outthrust like this oak-bud cluster, scion of a gnarled tree:

Some are fanciful, with dancing dangles:

And some are simple, pure and sweet:

Some look like tiny beads, whether against the sky...

...or in the palm of a hand:

Some are fuzzy and fresh-green:

And some are positively bridal in their beauty:

Even last year's dried wild cucumber vines look good with a thoughtful bird perched atop:

("When are these things going to turn green?" he wonders.)

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Of course, for some of us, all this rising sap and burgeoning growth means lots of sneezing and watery eyes. But I think it's worth it.

What's your favourite part of spring?

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