Hi Friends!
Honestly. It was just a quick trip to the post office! Up at dawn, I had spent a bit of time writing three short letters to family and friends. It was such fun to tuck lots of recent photos into each envelope. Naturally, I couldn’t wait to drop all of this happy mail into the big, blue mailbox in front of the post office!
Our post office is located next to a lovely park ~ a park just filled with Spring color on a beautiful morning in May. What is a letter-writing, flower-loving, park-walking girl to do during her favorite month of the year? Happily, I still had my camera in my small backpack, so now we can take a little morning walk together… 
I peeked into the Conservatory first. Spring flowering plants surrounded the fountain and the goldfish pond. They were even tucked in amongst the cacti. What a study in contrasts, seeing the soft geranium petals against the spiky needles of these desert plants. The bright morning sunshine streamed in through the glass panes, filling the entire space with quiet warmth. Silent, except for the soft bubbling of the pond. I felt completely ‘present’ ~ mindful of the colorful flowers, the sweet scents, the warm, humid air, and stillness all around me.
Present…
My ‘One Little Word‘ for 2015
has once again chosen a moment in my day
to remind me to practice
being mindful of everything around me.
The flowering trees in the park are were just breathtaking! They seemed to call me to walk under their canopy, as their tiny, pink petals rained down upon me. The Crabapple trees were showering me with their colorful blessings! It was moment! I wish I could have captured that image for you through my camera lens.
Crabapples, Redbuds, and Magnolias in bloom filled the south end of the park. Their colorful branches guided me along the Friendship Walk, sprinkling their blossoms down onto the engraved pavers, filled with words of love and remembrance, along the garden path.
The Herb Garden was a quiet, peaceful place, as I looked around for signs of new growth among the herbs. Beds of bright tulips encircled the Peace Pole in the garden. Under the white tent, a lovely setting for outdoor weddings, I giggled along with a group of preschoolers, as they frollicked in the soft, green grass. I carefully climbed upon huge, stone steps to visit the spring flowers blooming in a terraced bed nearby. Don’t the blossoms just make your heart sing on a gorgeous day like this? 
A quiet visit to the Veterans’ Memorial in the park reminded me of the sacrifices that our brave men and women and their families have given for all of us. Flags from each branch of the military waved proudly in the breeze as I walked amongst the granite sculptures dedicated to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, and Coast Guard veterans. I was reminded of all the reasons why it’s so important to me to volunteer my time to support our military families.
As I walked past the Mansion in the park, the Magnolia blossoms bobbed in the gentle breeze. The fountain splashed happily, surrounded by beds of colorful annuals. Although the flowers are very small now, they will fill these formal garden beds with lush color in the weeks to come.
What an unexpected detour in my morning!
I drove home with a full heart, counting my blessings out loud.
Our warm, summer-like temperatures this afternoon were such a treat! With over an inch of rain this week, our garden is growing by leaps and bounds. Our Friendship Garden is changing daily. At the moment, bright, red tulips are blooming. The irises have large buds and the peonies seem to grow several inches overnight. The ants are busily crawling over the peony buds. It won’t be long until this very special perennial bed is in full bloom. You must come back soon to see it!
My morning ‘to do’ list also took a detour. I had planned to head off to the garden center to pick out annuals, for the containers on the front porch and deck. Instead I was totally content to wander through the garden… doing a bit of gardenkeeping here and there. (There is so much to do!!) I smiled as I watched a robin splashing in the birdbath, near our Herb Garden.
Then I spent a long time scrubbing our arbor, until it was shiny and white again. The clematis vines can now twist and turn their way up the arbor. It won’t be long until they are blooming, too! (Tip: Instead of climbing up on a ladder with a scrub brush, I discovered a much easier way to wash the arbor. Now I just use the long-handled snowbrush from my car and a bucket of water, while standing on the flagstone path beneath the arbor. Easy! Sparkly! So refreshing on a warm day in May!)
When I finally came inside late this afternoon, two pink Crabapple blossoms fell out of my hair and fluttered down onto the dining room floor. That’s when I knew I had to share this day with YOU!
{via Pinterest}
Last night, as I listened to a scrapbooking podcast, Wilna Furstenberg reminded the listeners that
“Life is not perfect. It’s hard and it’s complicated.”
It always helps if we can take a moment to notice the small blessings
that drop their blossoms all around us.
⚛⚛⚛
Thanks so much for stopping by today! I always look forward to our visits.
Cherish the day!
♡Dawn
P.S. What’s happening in your garden or nearby park this week?
