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Beauty & the Beast – Spring Snow
By Carol / May 3, 2013 /
Magnolia tree bearing the weight of snow.
My predawn walk to the mailbox this morning was marked by the beauty of trees coated with snow. That kind of wet snow that clings to every branch creating the effect of a winter wonderland. The kind of winter scene we enjoy so much in December.
However, it is May. Magnolia trees are in full bloom. Our maple and ash trees sprout seeds and leaves. The grass is green and growing with enough vigor that we’ve already mowed and begun collecting grass clippings for mulch on the garden.
During my walk to the mailbox, I considered how pretty this record snowfall was in spite of its untimely arrival and planned to bring my camera out to capture this winter/spring visual delight when the sun was up.
How much can an old willow tree take?
Later, as I trudged through the snow, I faced the beauty and beast nature of this snowstorm. Snow against the raspberry sherbet redbud blossoms, the luxurious pink magnolia blooms, and the spring green tree leaves was striking in its beauty. However, already laden with heavy blossoms, the limbs of the magnolia tree drooped to the ground under the added weight. Some had cracked. Our old willow tree, already damaged by a heavy winter storm lost so many branches it’s hard to tell where the tree ends and the ground begins. Around me, the sound of tree limbs snapping punctuated the air. A beast tore through our landscape.
Unexpected green in a black and white landscape.
As I sit looking out my window, I mourn once-beautiful trees that appear to have had a bomb set off in the middle, I wonder if they’ll survive such an assault. I cannot help but think of the Boston Marathon. There, too, unexpected violence ripped apart a beautiful spring scene.
I take hope in that nature has a remarkable way of healing. Some of our trees may not survive. But I expect most of them will. The scars will be visible for years, perhaps forever, but the trees survive. In the Boston bombings, three people did not survive the assault. But most will. They’ll have scars, but most will survive. Nature and human nature. We survive.
The photos are lovely. There’s something very inviting about seeing snow outside the window with a fire going and pot of soup on the stove, but in spring!!!
BTW, I tried to subscribe to your blog site and was told that I didn’t have feed burner capability, whatever that means. Being that I’m technically challenged, I’m not sure what to do. If I can’t make it with following you, know I tried and am pouting, lol.
xoxo
Paulette
I love the snow, too, Paulette – at the right time! I am technically challenged, as well. I’ll contact my tech person and see how we can get you subscribed. Thanks for trying. I’ll be in touch.
Paulette, all you need to do is type your e-mail address into the box under “Subscribe to my Blog” and click on the “Subscribe” bar underneath.
Thanks, Diane.
Hi, Carol! The photos are absolutely lovely, and accompanied by a beautifully written piece on the battle between winter and spring across our country this year. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insight to your morning.
BTW, I didn’t realize until today that I was no longer getting emails from your blog, but I’ve resubscribed with Feedburner today!
Thank you, Sherrey. It’s been quite a spring. I’ve forwarded Paulette’s question about subscribing to my blog to my tech support. I don’t know if something has changed to cause these glitches. Thanks for letting me know.
Your photos are beautiful, but I can’t imagine all that snow at this time of year. The magnolias here are in full bloom as are the forsythia and a number of other blossoming trees that I can’t name, and gardens are beginning to fill out. I hope there will not be too much damage to your trees or anything else that has been growing in your garden.
So much snow at this point is unusual – and damaging – for us. We lost several limbs off the magnolia tree and may branches from ash, maple and willow trees. My husband says he doesn’t mind about the willow. It is a very old tree and has to come down anyway. He says the snow just made his job easier. The other trees are another matter. On the bright side, the snow is all melted now and we’re back to green. Hopefully spring is here to stay!