A Breath of Hope
For weeks, the landscape has been frozen in winter’s grasp. White, blackish-green, tones of grays and browns, lifeless in colour. Our gardens lie immersed in this mysterious serenity. It has been months since they had any vitality or produced life. But they are not dead. They are quietly resting under Mother Nature’s white blanket.
All life needs a respite period. Mother Nature provides winter of reposing phase, not only for plants, and insects but also for us. Winter is a time of reflection, and planning. It teaches us to be patient, to reflect and appreciate the natural cycle of rest and renewal.
We are only aware of what we see—dead stems of last year’s flowers, mysterious tracks in the snow, chick-a-dees, juncos, sparrows dining at the feeders we provide, then darting back into the evergreens branches to snuggle for warmth. That is the winter we witness.
But under Mother Nature’s white insulating cover, seeds lay waiting. Native bees shelter in the dead hollow stems of sedum, tickseed, or bergamot along with other insect habitants to wait out winter. Ground beetles, ladybugs, caterpillars tuck themselves into leaf matter and in underground channels. They too are waiting.
Deep within the earth, soil microbes remain active, slowly breaking down organic matter, transforming fallen leaves and dead stems into essential nutrients that our plants will feast on in the spring. The gradual decomposition improves soil fertility and structure. Microbial byproducts help bind soil particles, creating better aeration and water. Earthworms burrow deeper, tunneling and aerating the soil as they go.
With a sudden snowstorm or plunging cold temperatures, winter can transpire over night. Hitting us again. Our expectations for the seasonal change diverted. We are not fooled as we know spring is a gradual process. It takes time and patience of human, flora, and fauna resilience.
There are whispers of hope in the air. As the days click on, the sun climbs higher in the sky, our daylight lengthens. The warm rays of the sun begin to slowly dissolve the white blanket on our gardens from a fluffy covering into matted crystals that crunch underfoot. And when a ray of sunlight hits them just right, they sparkle like tiny diamonds.
Rainstorms, some with an angry tone, as Mother Nature demonstrates her might. But most are gentle, washing away the grit and grime, cleansing our landscape of winter’s evidence.
Snow dissipates, exposing patches of earth. We breathe in deeply, savouring that musky freshness of soil. Spring is in the air. We delight in the return of robins. They hop around sourcing exposed earthy spots, between the crusty patches of snow, to pluck a juicy worm that has wiggled itself closer to the surface. Red-winged blackbirds too have returned, with the males eager to establish territory and proclaim their success with their unique nasally refrain.
In sheltered sunny spots of our garden, hints of colour emerge. Tender bright green sprouts push through the brown dead mass of last year’s garden. Snowdrops, winter aconites, and crocus begin their ascent from the earth. We are delighted. Our excitement and anticipation mounts as these early bloomers grow. We marvel with aspiration, the renewal of our gardens. Forgotten are the disappointments and struggles we faced last year. There is renewed hope for the coming season, nurturing, perhaps growing something new, refiguring our gardens to squeeze in more native plants.
As winter is the teacher of patience, endurance, and adaptability. Spring is our reward of enduring icy mornings, endless shovelling, and multiple layers of clothes. We have made it. We relish the joyful songs of birds, soak in the warming sun rays and breathe. Breathe in the Spring’s hope.
Nancy Abra, who resides near Thorndale, is an avid gardener, cultivating vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers. She is a long-standing active member of the London Middlesex Master Gardeners and Thorndale & Area Horticultural Society. Along with her passion for horticulture, she is a member of the London Writers Society and a columnist for the St. Marys Independent newspaper.
