Thoughts on Early Spring in North Carolina…

As we mentioned in our last blog one reason we are staying put in this part of North Carolina for a month is to let the mother nature catch up to us. We left the Rio Grande Valley of Texas several months ago but every since we left that part of the Lone Star State we have been staying where ever spring was beginning to peek out. Well we have now gotten a bit too far north and spring is just starting here…

One of my favorite seasons is spring! The Flowering Dogwoods (header photo), Azaleas and Yellow Jasmine are the early bloomers in this part of the world. What I like most about spring is the that all the plants seemingly have a new lease on life and the rebirthing of the greenery abounds everywhere. Other than the beautiful wildflowers that are displayed each spring I love the brilliant “fresh” greens that emerge from the buds of the trees. The color of green new born leaves have is a color that seemingly exists in nature only during the briefest time in early spring.

    

Right after these new leaves emerge they begin to resemble miniature likenesses of the mature leaves found on the plant they inhabit. The freshness of this color of green is due to the fact that these leaves have not had the time to fully armor themselves from the elements. They have not had to weather the blistering sun and the detrimental elements that mother nature will undoubtedly cast upon them. When they due they will lose this vibrant color of green and take on a darker and less brilliant shade of green resembling most leaves of all the other species trying to conquer the elements.

  

Depicted in today’s blog are some of the early budding trees found in much of the Southeastern Forests found in much of the forested southeastern USA. As I pen this blog other spring creatures are emerging as I am listening to the ethereal sound of the wood thrush. For those of you who have not heard this song (or were unaware you did) you should take the time out of your day to absorb the trill and melodic sounds the spring denizens emit.

The colors and sounds of spring are equal to those of fall… This nomadic lifestyle allows us to enjoy extended versions of my two favorite seasons…