There are few machine noises these days, just the occasional car in the distance or neighbors working in their yards. The bird song has been astounding, as if they can now hear each other clearly and are no longer struggling to communicate through a wall of manmade sound.
The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear. ~Rumi
I was weeding near the ‘Snow Fountains’ Japanese cherry tree yesterday when I heard a loud buzzing sound. It was the first bumblebees of the season as they dove through the branches and nuzzled blossom after blossom.
“What a strange thing!
to be alive
beneath cherry blossoms.”
~
I love the quiet moments in my garden. Did you know that scientists have discovered that as we isolate and stop our frenzied pace, the earth itself has become quieter?
Spring holds hope for a new beginning and this year is no different, but perhaps it is more important and more longed for in these strange times. The sun shining through blossoms of the spicebush
and the light on the footpath 
seem to promise renewal and fresh beginnings at a deeper level – I hope so.
It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart. ~Rilke
The daffodils and Virginia bluebells are opening . . .
along with late blooming double hellebore ‘Rose Quartz’. 
Life is uncertain yet we can still be kind, still be thoughtful, still be loving. Each step in the garden reminds me that Mother Earth and her creatures are flourishing even as our human world is turned upside down. My greatest hope is that we will find a way to live in harmony with each other and with the earth. Many people are in desperate need now – I encourage you to do what you can in your own way to help, whether it is to call a friend or contribute to your local food bank. If you are in need, please reach out to others for help – we are all in this together.
If people did not love one another, I really don’t see what use there would be in having any spring. ~
Thank you for walking with me in the garden. I wish each of you gentle silence and peace of heart.
Listen to silence. It has so much to say. ~Rumi
All photographs and text ©2020 Lynn Emberg Purse, except where noted.
composerinthegarden 
As always, Lynn, your photos are beautiful. I agree we need to be kind. I hope we all will be a little kinder while we deal with this pandemic. Stay safe. Stay healthy.
Thank you, Margie. You must be missing Italy deeply. I always enjoy my armchair visits there with you as guide 😊
Thank you so much. Yes I do miss Italy but I feel especially sad for my friends who have businesses there and rely on travelers for their livelihoods. My heart breaks for them. I had a trip planned for this fall, and unfortunately, it’s not going to happen. Hopefully in 2021 all of us who love to travel to the bel paese will be able to return. Take good care. I know how much you enjoy your lovely garden.
Lovely post. Found we are enjoying our garden more this year so the ‘lockdown’ has a small silver lining.
I’m finding the same thing, it is a joy to spend time in the garden every day. Thanks for stopping by!
Such a generous post, Lynn. The bee video is fabulous. I’m rather in awe of your technical expertise, but then, of course, you would know how to make a good recording and insert it into your post! 😉 And thank you for that haiku – the Japanese really know cherry blossoms! Your thoughts in the last paragraph are beautifully expressed and get right to the essence – something I think you’re very good at! Be well, Lynn, and enjoy Spring!
Oh, I was so excited to film the bees, Lynn – they were hungry and ignoring my cell phone so I got lucky with that footage. Enjoy spring as it unfolds, stay safe and well 🙂
I stepped out onto my deck and looked closely at my blooming redbud. In the 4 years it has been there, I never really noticed a good many bees on it. It is after all, a native here, but I never noticed the pollinators until staying at home.
-Ray
Ray, isn’t it amazing how much better we see our world? I think that it is not just the time at home but the quieting of our attention that allows us to take the time to see and notice. My redbud is getting ready to bloom – now I will pay more attention to it 🙂
I really enjoyed these beautiful quiet scenes and wonderful wise words. Yes, the quiet is soothing and replenishing.
Thank you, Ali – glad to hear that you are enjoying the quiet too. Gardeners are probably managing this strange time more easily than others 🙂
Always good to see your scrumptious garden and “hear” your words as I read. I am glad oyu have such solace and pleasure there. My woodland walks and river strolls have become even more rewarding here in OR. As you noted, the quietness. Quietude, really. And bird song. Best to you. (Appreciate the quotes, as well.)
Quietude is a wonderful word, Cynthia, enjoy your woodland walks. I’m on Easter break and finally have some time to catch up on your posts 🙂
Glad you get a break–and enjoy the time off in your garden and home 🙂
Thank you Lynn for sharing and for lifting my day. Silence has so much to say, indeed – and it enables our other senses to be stronger. Be well.
Janet, thank you for stopping by and commenting. I’m delighted to hear that your day was brighter for being here. I agree about embracing silence – I’m learning to listen even more closely now. Be well, stay safe.
You’re a week or so ahead of us. Beautiful cherry and daffodils!
Thanks, Jason – you’ve got some bloom coming your way!
A beautiful poetic piece, Lynn. Enjoy your garden including that lovely snow cherry. Hopefully after our present world crisis is over we will all slow down and live a simpler life-style. Gardens are a great way to start.
Thank you, Richard, the garden has grown even more important to me now. A meme I saw recently said something to the effect that Mother Nature has sent us all to our rooms so that we can reconsider our behavior. I have been thinking of this a lot and how I might change my daily life to take even better care of our planet. Be well, stay safe.
A lovely meditative post Lynn. The hellebore is exquisite!
Thank you, Jude. I love that hellebore – every year more lush. That doesn’t always happen with the fancy expensive ones 🙂
Lynn This is such a needed gift and so welcomed.Thank you so much for moments of peace and beauty. Hope you and Bill are enjoying your piece of Paradise more than ever. Big hug to you both.
Thank you, Marj – I hope you are enjoying your lovely garden now that spring has arrived. We are well here, hugs back to you. Hopefully, we can visit each other’s gardens this summer – mine will be super groomed by then!
This post served as a wonderful reset for me; thanks, Lynn.
Kerry, I’m glad to hear that – I think of you often and hope you are well and safe.
Thank you so much for this lovely and peaceful time in your garden, Lynn. The birdsong this year! It’s been amazing. I was out watching our bumblebees yesterday, listening to their buzz and hum. I think, perhaps, Mother Earth is intentionally showing us her gifts right now. A form of grace. ❤
Thanks Robin; yes, the birds seem very happy to be heard this year – perhaps we’ll have a baby bird boom? 🙂 I saw a meme the other day to the effect that “Mother Earth has sent us all to our rooms until we change our behavior.” That may be very true, but yes, there is a sense of grace in sharing her loveliest gifts.
Heavenly, as always, Lynn! Thank you for the beautiful meditation and peaceful time in your glorious garden. Never more necessary to have such a healing space for retreat and recollection. I pray you will both be well and stay safe.
Ah Kitty, I was commenting on your site while you were here – serendipity 🙂 I hope you are finding peace and beauty in your garden as well, even as you ride out the whirlwind that surrounds you. Thank you for your kind words, be well, stay safe, kiss your creatures from me.
Thank you for this moment of peace and calm. Much needed these days. The garden is a perfect place to escape to – and yours, especially so.
Thank you, Audrey – it seems important to share the peace that I find here with others – we all need some respite and beauty in our lives right now.
Lovely post, Lynn. ‘Sheltering in place’ where you are is not a bad thing with a garden like that!
Thank you, Eliza – I could say the same to you about sheltering in place in your garden 🙂 I am thankful for my garden every day.
My husband called me over to hear the buzzing of bees in our AZ grapefruit tree. There were no blossoms yet, and we suddenly realized that what we had was a swarm. We quickly retreated and stayed away for a few days. Happily, the swarm moved on!
Wow! I hope I don’t encounter one of those – still, it must have been awesome!
Lynn: Once again, your words, the poetry, and the beautiful photographs in your blog have given this soul a sense of peace in this troubled world today. Thank you so very much and may our good Lord continue to shower you, and Bill, with good health and blessings.
Gene, I’m so glad you stopped by. The garden always restores me and I’m so glad that you found some peace here too. I wish you wellness and safety on this Palm Sunday; Bill and I are teaching online and working on creative projects.