florjus blog
Spring 2024
Ornamental Cherries
This spring was the first time I've seen cherries on an ornamental cherry tree. I didn't think they formed fruit.
Maybe the birds feast on them before I can get a look at the tiny jewel like fruit. Or maybe it's one of those years.
Woefully Under Planted Fringe Tree
I know what I wrote below about not taking photos on my phone during my walks. But the delicate white fringe tree blossoms blowing in the breeze begged to be photographed.
The best part of the blossoms, the fragrance can't be captured on photo. That's sad. Why? White fringe tree is an uncommon sight although it's native to the savannas and lowlands of the northeastern and southeastern United States, from Massachusetts south to Florida, and west to Oklahoma and Texas. That's a big chunk of the country.
Fringe tree is small in stature yet big on charm. The pollinated flowers precede fruits that resemble olives but taste like wild plums.
Again...how is this tree so under planted?
The Sun Shines Through
I have a not so strict policy against taking pictures and videos while I'm walking. But sometimes I just can't help myself.
While trying to identify a tree (American Hornbeam), I noticed the golden sunlight shining through the leaves. Sunlight shining through leaves is one of my favorite things. It's not a rare occurrence or an event that requires a journey to witness (like the Northern Lights). It's enchanting all the same.
The Japanese word for this common yet beautiful happening is komorebi. Like many Japanese words, there's no literal English translation. My favorite translation is "sunlight leaking through trees."
Komorebi is a feeling. Feelings are difficult to define or translate. So go outside and feel it.
Samaras
I've misspelled samara as samsaras for years. I discovered this after reading an essay on Buddhist philosophy.
Though this is not the place for in depth explanations about Buddhism (I'm unqualified to do that), my general understanding is that samsara is the cycles of birth and death.
Such a concept is in keeping with Freeman maple samaras, curiously designed like propellers, that will travel with the breeze to search for a place to become a tree.
Watch maple samaras flutter while still on the tree in a short video.
Partial Eclipse
The partial solar eclipse wasn't dramatic. It was a lovely spring day with the moon acting as the sun's dimmer switch.
Early spring is greener than last year, thank goodness.
To a simple woman such as myself, backlit leaves Common Teasel (Dipsacus Fullonum) are magical. Love the drift of flowering dead nettles.
Charming baby White Oak leaves (Quercus Alba) in the partial eclipse's golden light.
White Oak's tassel flowers double the charm of the translucent baby leaves.
It's been a while since I've seen a groundhog emerge from this burrow. Maybe it's home to a new resident.
Cherry tree blossoms were still hanging on.
Soft shadows of maple samsaras on the pavement create an abstract painting.
The geese couple takes a mid afternoon flight; they're usually spotted in the sky around sunset.
Pink Spring Sunset
I've never let spring creep up on me before. At least not that I remember. I pride myself on noticing the buds long before the blossoms.
Part of me acknowledges that my attention was elsewhere. Another part knows that spring has come earlier in the past several years.
The callery pear and cherry blossoms covered the branches before I spotted a single wild daffodil.
I planned to photograph the waxing gibbous moon above the white tree blossoms. By the time I made it outside, the moon was too high in the sky to capture that image.
The setting sun casting a pinkish light on the forest of white blossoms mesmerized.
