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April 14, 2014

The Crocus

Saturday was such a beautiful day here in our corner, and I discovered something extra special in my garden along the south-west side of our house where the snow has begun to melt.  The fields are still covered in layers of snow and ice, and the driveway is lined with dirty, melting, mushy piles of snow, but tucked up close to the house is a glorious wave of color, a little oasis in the midst of the muddy, slushy mess, a sign that winter is over...my crocuses. 
The crocuses have become one of my favorite flowers...such tender little flowers with iron wills, pushing their delicate noses through the snow into the harsh cold temperatures of the New England spring; unaffected, they open their little faces to the sun and smile at the world around them.  I love this quote from the book I am currently reading, Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim,
"Things came up there and grew and flowered exactly as my gardening books said they should do; and in front of me, in the gay orchard, things that nobody ever troubled about or cultivated or noticed throve joyously beneath the trees, -- daffodils thrusting their spears through the grass, crocuses peeping out inquiringly, snowdrops uncovering their small cold faces when the first shivering spring days came."










The Crocus

by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)


 Beneath the sunny autumn sky
With gold leaves dropping round,
We sought, my little friend and I,
The consecrated ground,
Where, calm beneath the holy cross,
O'ershadowed by sweet skies,
Sleeps tranquilly that youthful form,
Those blue unclouded eyes.
 
Around the soft, green swelling mound
We scooped the earth away,
And buried deep the crocus-bulbs
Against a coming day.
"These roots are dry, and brown, and sere;
Why plant them here?" he said,
"To leave them, all the winter long,
So desolate and dead."
 
"Dear child, within each sere dead form
There sleeps a living flower,
And angel-like it shall arise
In spring's returning hour."
Ah, deeper down -- cold, dark, and chill --
We buried our heart's flower,
But angel-like shall he arise
In spring's immortal hour.
 
In blue and yellow from its grave
Springs up the crocus fair,
And God shall raise those bright blue eyes,
Those sunny waves of hair.
Not for a fading summer's morn,
Not for a fleeting hour,
But for an endless age of bliss,
Shall rise our heart's dear flower.



12 comments:

  1. Beautiful! We have yet to see any around here, but there are signs that they might be here soon. Enjoy!

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  2. I love this time of year when everything begins to unfurl or shoot up and agree the best thing is that first crocus or snow drop. Enjoy your garden. It's good to know that spring is on it's way.
    debx

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    1. Thanks, Debby, I truly am enjoying these very first blooms and am looking forward to more.

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  3. Beautiful colour. So glad Spring is finally getting to you.

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    1. Thanks! I just love purple and yellow together...so pretty!

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  4. They have been out for the past week around here. I am always surprised and happy when I see honeybees on them. One of the only flowering plants out at this time.

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  5. Crocuses are amazing aren't they, they bloom just when you least expect it and I always think they look far too delicate to survive. But thankfully they do, bringing a little colour after all the greys and whites of winter.

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    1. Yes, it's amazing how such delicate little petals can withstand such harsh surroundings. Thanks for stopping by.

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  6. Beautiful. Thank you so much for printing this poem. (This is my first time commenting, but wanted to compliment you on your beautiful blog.) I too had hard time pushing that publish button for the first time (very recently.) And I guess I"m still testing the waters :-)(over at thesettingmoon.blogspot.com.) Anyways thank you for your beautiful pictures and knitting and sewing links. They're inspiring.

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    1. Thank you, Katie, for stopping by and leaving such an encouraging comment. I look forward to "visiting" your little space.
      Don't you just love th poem?!?!?

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