You might miss the hawthorn leaves that are starting to unfold in the sun…….
Crataegus monogyna – or in simple terms the Hawthorn leaves are coming out to playCrataegus monogyna ~ Hawthorn
Or you might not see the skeletal remains of last year’s foliage that managed to hang on through the harsh storm winds that ravaged the land…
If you don’t explore the hedgerows this week you might miss the catkins on the hazel trees as they sway in the soft breeze…
Corylus avellana
Or you might not spot the way the light catches them in the late evening sun…
Corylus avellana catkins
If you don’t take a few minutes to step outside the door and take a few minutes of peace for yourself, you’ll miss the sound of the birds and insects as they look for mates and food and nest and play….
Salix ~ pussy willow
and if you don’t slow down you might not notice the way the pussy willow sparkles as as it catches the light.
If you don’t take a few minutes out of your busy life and head outside you might not feel the sunshine on your face as you momentarily stop, close your eyes, tilt your head and accept the warmth as it caresses your skin.
“Yesterday the twig was brown and bare;
To-day the glint of green is there;
Tomorrow will be leaflets spare;
I know no thing so wondrous fair,
No miracle so strangely rare.
I wonder what will next be there!”
L.H. Bailey
Will you take a few minutes during these dry, spring days to spend a little time practising mindfulness, bringing some calm and simplicity into your life? There’s a reason the word renewal is associated with spring, but you may have to head outside to find it…
Dee Sewell – a horticulturalist and certified trainer who started Greenside Up in 2009 and teaches people how to grow vegetables. Dee specialises in working with community gardens but also offers workshops, allotment visits, consultations, horticultural therapy, afterschools clubs as well as local talks – she tailors her services to meet clients needs. In 2012 Dee launched a Seed Gift Collection containing varieties of vegetable and insect friendly flowers with the aim of getting more people growing. Dee’s blog was a finalist in the 2012 Ireland Blog Awards in the Eco/Green and Lifestyle Categories.
Source: GreensideUp – If you don’t go outside this week…- Dee Sewell
