Awakening

For obvious reasons, I haven't been into The Woodland that borders my home for several days. This evening, I finally felt well enough to take a few steps inside and check a very special place.

There, beneath a great oak tree, several years ago, I planted a native spring wildflower, bloodroot. While winter's chill still rules the land, this fragile but determined flower lifts its pale crown above the dry leaves, for but a few days, until the wind strips its petals away.

The flower has not yet emerged this year, but the tight green spear of its solitary leaf bud has just risen from the earth -- and what is this, a second spear rises close by it this time. So the little beauty has begun to multiply.