Floral Fancy: The Seduction of Flowers

I am slowly venturing into the subtle and seductive world of flowers. The calmer, slower and quieter I have become, the more I hear them calling to me and waving at me from their humble corners of the natural world.

It was first the early blooming flowers that caught my attention a few years back. Noticing the snow drops and daffodils as harbingers of hope, a symbol of rebirth and a reminder of Springs arrival. I also began some lazy gardening and experienced the joy of my own planted seeds blooming and feeling bonded to them as if they were my little flower babies.

Each year I go a little deeper and learn a little more. I’ve also taken an interest in the secret language of flowers, floriography and flower symbolism. Though I don’t know much yet.
Differen't flowers seem to jump out at me and speak to me and I lean into their wisdom for guidance. Last year it was the blush red rhododendrons. They kept catching my eye and grabbing my attention. Every time I’d drive by one I’d twist my head back to get another look, transfixed by their electric beauty.

This year it was the purple crocuses that caught my attention. First sighting March 1. I saw the snow drops a couple weeks prior. But the crocuses stood out more to me this year than last. They would be the catalyst and inspiration this year. They seduced me out of my stupor and brought me back into alignment with the realms of the flowers.

Though I have my floral fancy, I often forget to engage with them. They are so small and unassuming, it’s easy to put them out of mind. The crocuses moved me into action and I went out for a couple wildflower sighting adventures and that got me excited for more to come. I want to learn more about the sequence of wildflower blooms through out the year.

It is very comforting to me to notice natures patterns and rhythms and how reliable they are like clockwork.

Just like the pesky ants who try to move into my house every Spring, and the spiders in the Fall. I’m always amazed how they are right on time, almost to the day. As much as I dislike the ants moving in, they are comforting in a way too, because they remind me Spring is here. And I have my trusty method for removal that I go to every year. I may be a gentle soul, but when it comes to home invasion I believe in a stand your ground approach. Off with their heads! They were extra invasive this year and inspired me to explore creating a pest banishing song.

:/

This year I’ve also been noticing the bird sounds and the frogs in the morning. It’s like suddenly everyone woke up! The mornings are now dressed in creature songs and it makes me smile.

As for my flower research, I am in no rush. I plan to slowly chip away at it over the years. Learning a bit more and connecting a bit deeper each year. We’ll see where things end up this year. I purchased two large wildflower seed bags, one small pack of multi coloured lupines and one small pack of sweet peas. One of the wildflower seed bags is the pollinator pack, so that felt exciting too. Attracting some bees and butterflies into the yard would be quite fun, and I also like that it assists them with their mission too.

It is such a deeply joyful feeling for me when I see the first flowers of the new year, popping up amongst the dead leaves and dreary backdrop of winter. Slowly colour and life starts to make its way back, until everything is bursting.

I also have this funny moment every year where I get mesmorised by all the fresh plants and involuntarily utter internally "green and growing". Which then reminds me of the song 'Green & Growing' that I made years ago, inspired by that very feeling - when I first notice all the greenery gushing forth. I guess I am predictable like the seasonal patterns as well, experiencing the exact same replica of awe each year at the same time.

~C ⭐