Saturday, May 23, 2009

Patience

I think the natural world is conspiring to try and teach me something. Last spring I briefly dated a fellow that brought me about 5lbs. of wildflower seeds that are native to this area. I kinda feel bad that I didn't like him better because he brought me, literally, about a truck load of flowers and plants for my garden and yard. Anyway, I sowed the seeds that spring after preparing the soil and fertilized everything. I did everything I thought I was supposed to do to get the seeds to take and then....nothing. I think I had maybe two flowers sprout last year. I thought, well, maybe they will come up later, and bloom in late summer or fall. Nothing. So, I just forgot about them, assuming that they were just not going to take. I had failed to do something right and was not going to have any flowers.
Then this spring came. They are so thick you can't walk amongst them without stepping on some. And several different kinds. Only one type is blooming now but the others will each follow in their turn. It's incredible how many there are and makes a beautiful display. So, seems that I did do everything right; I just needed to have a little patience. The flowers will bloom when they are ready.

This past week, for three days in a row, a large hawk has flown over my truck just as I make the last turn in the drive up to the house. Now, I've seen hawks many times in the sky over the house but it's very unusual to see one so close to the house and have him fly so low over my vehicle. He's usually only 10 or 12 feet above me. He's (or she) is very large and beautiful. On the last day I looked up the symbolism for hawks and found that they represent insight and perception. I haven't seen him since that day. Perhaps he left me some the last time he flew over.


*Guns-N-Roses (a favorite band of mine, btw)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those flowers are gorgeous Annie! I know what you mean about patience, I am always thinking of something on the spur of the moment and wanting to achieve it yesterday LOL!

Pablo said...

I've heard about planting wildflower seeds that the first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap!

The Country Experience said...

Very timely post. Patience is a difficult quality to learn. I'm like Molly--I want to get it done yesterday, usually, whatever it is.

Even though I see them a lot, hawks still make my heart glad. Watching them float on the air currents, barely needing to move, so majestic and above it all.

That guy who gave you the 5 lbs of seed--talk about a gift that keeps on giving! I had no idea.

countrypeapie said...

This post made me smile a very big smile -- thank you.

P.S. I like GNR, too. Lee teases me about it. :)

MamaHen said...

Hey Molly! thanks, I guess most people need to work on their patience!

Hey Pablo! well, if they leap next year I'm going to be covered up!

Hey CE! yeah, I love the hawks and am always thrilled to see one up close.

Hey Pea! thank you too! and yeah, GNR is great. Appetite For Destruction is probably one of the best albums ever.

Ed said...

Many wildflowers require cold weather or even a freeze first to make the seed able to germinate. You can trick them by putting them in the refrigerator first before planting them in the spring.

MamaHen said...

Hey Ed! Yeah, that was probably it and I had since read about that sort of thing.