The colour of the blossoms
must be dyed in that sound –
a warbler’s call
lovelier than ever
in spring dawn
Saigyo
Tr. Burton Watson
Spring unfolds with layer after layer of growth and renewal. Birds flying north and south during their migration, hibernations coming to an end with wet noses sniffing out much needed food, new leaves break free from their protective shells, all part of a continuous medley of colour, excitement and renewal.
Indescribably exquisite, no artist could ever fully capture the true splendour of a cherry tree in full blossom. Throughout all of the great art galleries of the world nothing compares to the sheer fleeting beauty, of this tree in bloom. A delight for the eyes, the blossoms nectar provides a feast for early pollinating insects for a short time, before an evening wind blows millions of petals, from thousands of branches, to clothe our pathways in a delicate carpet of pink. No need for management or supervision, no need for rules, regulations or procedures, for all of this renewal occurs within an interacting, self-generating, self-regulating web of life. Each plant, bird, insect and animal follows their own nature, but they are all eventually reliant upon the natural environment, of which they are a part. It seems there is an underlying rhythm that helps to sustain life, a flow where things occur at the right time and in the right place.
The world of nature exists within the movement and rhythm of the seasons as they flow and follow each other from one year to the next. Without this harmony there would be no renewal at spring, no summer abundance and the bounty of autumn would simply fade away.
From time to time I stop to rest in the shade of a tall tree
and quietly listen to the songs of spring birds.
Thanks to Claire Torrance for these lovely photos.