Persistence and Perseverance

As the cold winds howl amid the blue skies and puffy clouds, I am moved to observe what in nature continues onward in its path towards early spring. It proceeds regardless of what the nature of winter and freezing temperatures provides. Then, a word, persistence, pops into my head. What a great word! Not only great for what can be observed in nature, but also what we see and experience in life. The definition of persistence explains much: “firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty, obstacles or opposition.” Extend that meaning further, and add staying determined, refusing to give up – perseverance.

Now, persistence connects with the natural world as well as with us, as humans, living our lives, moving forward regardless of the many curves we have thrown at us over the course of our time here on earth. Each one of us has our own unique baskets and batches of obstacles do deal with. How we choose to handle them is also unique and determines the outcomes of all the twists and turns.

Camelia, a winter bloom

LOOKING FOR SIGNS

Today, I choose to wander in my neighborhood and observe in wonder the persistence of nature and all the plants that have continued to emerge in spite of our unusually low temperatures and the most recent record snow storm in Eastern North Carolina (15 to 19 inches where I was on the coast). As I made the cursory rounds, I see my hellebores looking quite lovely. I planted them specifically for their perennial nature and their tenacity to thrive in inclement times. They have come back without a care in the world. They need nothing from me except to observe and appreciate.

My daffodils are emerging with the foliage and clear signs of blooms that will soon emerge, again, regardless of any of the winter “woes” right outside my front door. As I ride around the area, these welcome pops of yellow are showing up and dotting the landscape with “happy.”

The daffodils mark the coming spring

Hearty Hellebore

Another neighborhood find and sign of the shifting season is the quince that grows in one particular bend in the road. It, too, is a welcome sight – another small bush that I had never noticed before until I started walking the neighborhood a few years ago with a more observant eye. I started walking with less regard for step counts and more for what interesting things I could notice along the way.

Because we have had a few stretches of super cold (relative to our area) followed by several days of warmer temperatures up and into the 70’s, I think some of our plants and trees might be a little confused. I noticed several trees filled with pink-filled branches. These two Japanese cherry trees are a little early, ahead of their time, confused but persistent.

TOOK ANOTHER WALK

Most of what I had noticed and mentioned above was found either in my yard or by way of driving past these things in my neighborhood. I decided to take a walk with my camera to see what else was happening in this pre-spring period. In just a few weeks, the calendar will say that winter is over and a new season has begun. I walked today with an observing heart and eyes to find more signs of persistence in the plants.

I walked with my Lensbaby Velvet 56 to find beauty in this day that lives beyond any obstacles of winter. Can I just say that it was, and still is, a blustery day? When I arrived home after the hour-long walk, I checked the weather. The temperature was a reasonably comfortable 45 degrees. The winds, however, ranged from 10 to 13 miles per hour with gusts sometimes moving at 19 mph. Seriously, the day did not offer the most ideal conditions for a walkabout combined with handheld, manual focus photography. I did it anyway, for an hour. I didn’t even snip any buds to bring home for more controlled conditions to photograph. I just walked, observed and made images that spoke to me of persistence, perseverance and the coming spring.

Early cherry tree blooms

WHAT I FOUND ALONG THE WAY

As I walked, I paid attention to the trees. I was reminded that there are trees that hold onto their leaves until spring. It’s called marcescence. It happens with oaks and beeches and other trees. It’s a “botanical phenomenon when certain deciduous trees and shrubs retain their dead brown leaves throughout the winter.” The leaves remain attached to the stems until spring when new growth forces them off. Take a walk anywhere, and you’ll see them. I saw a lot of marcescence in my neighborhood.

The hydrangea bushes, brown and dry, are now beginning to sprout new buds – not a lot, but it’s happening. Skeleton flower bunches are still hanging onto several of the bushes. I was surprised to see that even the magnolia tree was sprouting some new growth, future blooms which generally don’t arrive here until June.

Brown leaf of Japanese maple holding on

Some of the usual and not so glamorous suspects I found included dandelions and henbits. While some may argue, I believe that yellow, not green, is the first color of spring. I also believe that the dandelions often beat the daffodils to the punch in marching the signs of spring into the world. While many seek to rid these flowers from their yards and gardens by way of chemicals, they do serve as beneficial plants. They are edible to a degree, but more importantly, they attract pollinators and serve as an early spring food source for the bees. When sprayed with chemicals, these blooms become dangerous for the bees. Just something to think about. The henbits, when they cover a field in the color purple, can be quite impressive. Individually, the flowers are pretty and interesting to look at, but not quite as much as the massively covered fields. Henbits are in the mint family and are also edible. They, too, serve as early pollinators.

As the walk ended, I spied my iris plants, which have been up with their green sword-shaped leaves for a while. I won’t see the beautiful flowers until April or May, but these signs of spring are encouraging. In an optimistic moment in late fall, I planted some seeds that are referred to as “cool flowers.” They are supposed to give me some early spring flowers that I don’t normally have. With my brown thumb (not green), I am hopeful that something will come up. For now, they’re still hiding, and I don’t blame them. I will have to wait and see.

Dandelion Trio

Henbits

FINAL THOUGHTS

As I walked around my neighborhood today looking for signs of nature’s persistence, I was reminded of my own need for the same. With every gust of wind, I wasn’t aiming for perfection in the images, just reminders that nature is mighty and beautiful. Nature continually overcomes the obstacles within each lifecycle – the freezes, the rains, the droughts and heat waves – in every season. We, too, are mighty and beautiful, even when we don’t feel like it. We, and nature, just keep moving forward, doing our best, doing what we are meant to do – to grow and change with the seasons.

These signs of a new and coming season give me hope – hope for a colorful and uplifting spring, hope for new growth for me, and for all of us. While it is still “stick season,” and some of you may be reading this surrounded by a deep, deep blanket of snow and cold, a new day is coming. Obstacles will appear, but persistence and perseverance will prevail. Don’t give up. A new day is coming. A new day is already here. Just give yourself an hour to walk around wherever you are. You will be surprised at what you find.

The wind doesn’t ask permission to move mountains. It whispers, persists, and returns – until even stone begins to shift.

—Lawrence Nault

Hydrangea Skeleton – What Remains Until …

Camelia beauty that will fade when warmer weather arrives

Promise of late spring magnolia

Early spring beauty in the cherry trees