Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The Anniversary Of My Grandfather's Birth


It is an incredibly beautiful spring day here, clear and cool and it is 125 years since the birth of my grandfather, James Marshall Alexander. No, he is definitely not still alive. But I just thought I'd mention that. He was born in 1888 which seems impossible but it's true and he was important part of my growing up and no doubt a big part of my DNA and sometimes I appreciate that and sometimes I don't. He was a good man, though and quite frankly, I need all the genetic goodness I can get.

I am home alone and have an entire day before me of nothing-at-all except that which I choose to do and inspired by Ellen over at Stuff From Ellen's Head  I took my "real" camera (as opposed to my iPhone) outside to take a few shots of some of the things blooming here right now, growing on these two tiny acres where I live on this day, which is no more special than any other, which is to say, every bit as special as any other, alive as it is on this blue planet with its thin skin of air, its rain, its drought, its sweetness and its sorrow. As with every day, the planet is reborn and thus, we too.

Good morning.



Iris. 



The mulberry I planted last year. The tiny fuzzy things are the coming-on berries. 



A bamboo which erupted since last evening. 


I love the way the head of it has become a reservoir of this morning's dew. 


Bradford pear blossoms.


Bright new fern in morning light. 


The start-up of the Ashe magnolia blossom. I just read that this tree has the largest simple leaf and single flower of any native plant in North America. I did not know that. I simply knew that it pleased me.

So yes. Good morning. Very, very good morning. 


8 comments:

  1. Spring is here, and life begins anew. I hope you've got a good tea-sippin, sittin-down place in the midst of all this beauty.

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  2. That first picture of sprouting bamboo looks like a vaguely human arm reaching up and out from under the soil. What rough beast, its hour come round at last, has been sleeping buried there?

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  3. Thank you for the lovely Spring images in my head. I'm at least a month and 3 zones behind you :)
    It's good to remember our ancestors and be grateful for getting parts of the good ones.

    Have a great day.

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  4. I dont' think I've ever seen bamboo like that. It's always been huge green stalks. I had no idea!

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  5. Well! Having been lost in my own private funk for days, how lovely to return and find your blog bursting with spring! Thank you!

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  6. Here's to James Marshall Alexander and the blooms that came out to celebrate the day!

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  7. Love the photos and also the information about your grandfather.

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  8. I've read that magnolias are one of our oldest extant flowering species -- which I guess is why it's the largest simple bloom and leaf. Nothing beats that scent!

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