An Unexpected Gift

The way I gasped.

I’ve been in Louisville for the week where Spring is impatient. The sharp, fragrant smell of onion grass fills the air (& is quite tasty too). The daffodils are pushing their way up from the ground. And lo and behold two of my favorite late Winter flowers have made their debut!

The snowdrops, I know to bloom in February, I was already searching for:

But the woodland crocuses!!! The way I gasped. When that familiar bright purple suddenly caught my eye. One little crocus became two then eight then a whole patch coloring the dull grass. Yet another unexpected gift from nature.

The sight of the snowdrops and crocuses and (soon) daffodils have prompted me to find the flower file in my brain and pull out my Spring flowers checklist. For now I can happily check these two favorites off the list.

When I raked back the dead leaves
they appeared like little saints
bright purple against the dull brown terrain
like a secret the land kept as they
pushed through the soft spring earth.

Their taut green leaves, strong and new
still covered, they persevered without the support
of the sun. Purple petals opened
encasing their yellow stamen.
It occurred to me how brilliant they were
their existence not hinging on my appreciation.

They arose from the earth, gently, rhythmically
knowing no bounds of human error
and when I exposed them to the world
oh, how happy they looked, how ready to be here
to enjoy the fresh spray of rain on their little faces.

- “The Crocus Arrived First” by Jennifer Novotney