St Peters RC Church Hamilton

Late February into March we have a delight,

Insight into a treasury of texture, form and colour.

As winter’s quieter identity hands over to spring,

The exuberance is dramatically exciting and rewarding.

Some winter specialities remain yet in flower,

Like the ever glorious helleborus or cyclamen coum,

Now making room for companion snowdrops.

Their diminutive delicacy is offset readily

By the annual seasonal colourful crocus.

Their open cup looks up as if pleading further notice.

Wonderful wintery witch hazel offer scent as well as unusual flowers,

Raggy, shaggy, untidy in its grandeur, outstretching in its splendour,

With a highlight of orange and yellow lime flowers.

These are offset by the bold citrus zest of dogwoods.

The wonder of winter flowers is reaching its crescendo.

But now add to the mix the earliest iris in strong sapphire blue,

And the sunny bright delight of narcissi.

You realise the thermometer raises its temperature,

To welcome in the spring garden with the very pretty fritillary,

Complimented by bright jewel like anemones,

All striking especially if offset by trimmed topiary.

The emerald green of new growth binds the picture together,

As if painted by a top artist, which of course is true.

Tiny muscari of pink, white and predominantly blue, add grandiose.

Flower drifts can shift the focus to gaze on one pleasure after another.

Soon the stage will be set for the later treasure

As the garden is bejewelled with all shades of tulips

To decorate the ground with beautiful blossom above.

Clearly God’s love is all about richly giving.

We are living currently in the transition season.

Just as beyond now we will see how

Wave upon wave of hundreds, even thousands of tulips

Act like breakers billowing along the borders,

As if this is the optimum way to carry the garden into summer.

But let us not be in too much of a hurry

To get well ahead of the marvel of March.

Spring does bring countless days of delight to excite,

Each a fresh insight into the wonders of nature.

Lord, I thank You for the days of delight I have enjoyed throughout winter, with its own very individual portrayal of nature.

I thank You too, for the days of delight which lie ahead. Spring is my favourite season and I am already feeling excited at its gradual arrival. Amen.