Saturday, April 14, 2012

What is your wish?

Is it for the first sweet flowers? To see the leaves unfurl? Or, like me, for the snow to be really, truly, finally gone? (Yes, I know, that will never happen in the GWN!)

We are all dreaming this time of year, living just a little bit ahead of ourselves, in hope, in expectation, and with a creeping joy.

As you may have surmised, by my last post, I was in a place where spring presided, the capital of flowers in Canada, Victoria, British Columbia. While it was still early days there, the cherry trees were blooming, the bulbs were opening and the leaves were unfurling. Outside our window, we awoke to the chorus of birds in the mornings. I soaked up every second of it.

I took this photo on a rainy day in the Japanese garden at the Butchart Gardens. (Glorious day!) I think the very soul of spring has a green and gold home in that garden that anchors all that is soft breezes and dappled light to our continent.


Just a side note: I took this photo on the day the government announced they were ending production of the penny. I didn't hear the news until later that day. While that was probably a very practical decision, I, for one, will miss the penny. So, go ahead, come to this photo and make a wish whenever you like. Wishing and dreaming are always welcome here. :)

Oh, and here is my new favourite quote about wishing:

“When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out.”
~ Elizabeth Bowen

May all your wishes come true!! 

21 comments:

Adrian Thysse said...

My spring begins when I see the first Pulsatilla blooms in the garden, and when I spot the first bumblebee exploring them!

Still wishing for a sight of these...

Laurrie said...

I love the idea of making a wish on a picture of pennies in a puddle.

My wish is for . . . .

The Giraffe Head Tree said...

Such a beautiful post and image. I, too, shall miss the penny although I have an abundance of them in jars, baskets and all manner of nooks and crannies. Spring begins for me when the daffodils bloom. My favorite springtime flower. Sigh.....

Clayton said...

For us here north of Saskatoon the first flowers are inevitably Viola or Johnny-Jump-Ups. Their cute faces sure brighten the landscape and of course they come up almost anywhere!
Clayton

HomeBugGardener said...

They did away with the penny in Australia many years ago, and the 2 cent piece too, and except for the colour, I can't say I ever missed them. Rounding off for a purchase was in the consumer's favour, so that was a nice illusion of fairness. Now, if only Canada would decide to do away with snow too ...

Anna said...

I quite often curse our pennies as they are small and slippery but would be sad if they disappeared. Love the quote.

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Adrian, I believe I recall you posting beautiful photos of a purple-ish pulsatilla. I love them and hope you'll take some photos this year. :)

Laurrie, I wish you a gentle gardening season this year, with no storms!

Debbie (GHT), I understand your love for them; Victoria has wild daffodils growing wild on the banks along the harbour. I was smitten with them.

Clayton, I want to get some Johnny Jump-ups this year. My mom always had them in her garden and I was delighted with them as a child and loved how they would come up anywhere. It's nice to have a few surprises in the garden. :)

HBG, As we stare down another weekend of snow, I hear ya!

Anna, whenever we say good-bye to a part of our history it feels like something has gone permanently missing. I will miss the penny, useful or not. Nostalgic, I know. :)

RURAL said...

Here's to a spring wish for you, snow gone, spring truly here...

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Marguerite said...

I have to admit I was a little downtrodden when I heard about the penny. What about finding lucky pennies and passing them on? Life just won't be the same.

Jennifer said...

The Elizabeth Bowen quote is wonderful and I like the possibilities that the pile of pennies symbolizes. I wish you the very best for this coming gardening season!

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Jen, Thank you, thank you! :)

Marguerite, It won't be. I am really, really going to miss the penny. Call me a romantic...but I'm attached to the penny!

Jennifer, Thank you, and I wish you the very best with your garden. :) I thought it was a generous and lovely act for the garden to leave a pile of pennies for wishing. That wasn't the only water feature in the garden that had a pile, but it was the prettiest. :)

Diane at My Cottage Garden said...

Lovely post. Its nice to meet another Canadian garden blogger. Thanks for the visit. Cheers from Ontario.

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

I wish that everyone facing struggles can find a way to overcome them.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Ms S .. I missed this post .. I think it is because I am in and out of the garden so much !
Ah .. yes .. the end of the penny.
Actually I am glad .. we didn't have that in Holland .. and my wallet was a lot lighter ? LOL
Hum ... my wish .. do I break a wishbone from a turkey too ? LOL
OK .. I am making the wish in my head .. pause .. wish made .. THERE!
I threw a last penny in !
Thank you for giving us this chance girl : )
Joy

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Diane, Thanks for stopping by! So glad I found your blog. :)

Rebecca, I love this and will join you in it. :)

Joy, Now I hope you get that wish! lol

Casa Mariposa said...

Spring comes for me when the daffodils blooms and the air smells earthy. I love pennies but wish the US would quit producing them, too. They cost more to make than they are worth!

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Casa, Yesterday was the first day that the earth smelled like earth when I was in the woods. Love it!

GRACE PETERSON said...

Probably should start saving those pennies. They might be worth something someday. :) Pretty photo. I hope it's spring in the GWN.

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Hi Grace, I think I may have to hoard some nice, shiny pennies. Spring is here in the GWN but the snow keeps threatening us in the forecast. I want to say, "begone!' to it. :)

Diane by the hem of the sea said...

I wish had known you were in Victoria; I would have met you for a tea at Butchart. What a delightful quote that is!

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Diane, Darn! I hesitated to announce online that I was "away," but had I thought of you being there I would have given you a heads-up! It was a divine week of green bliss. Oh, and I did pick up some tea from my very favourite tea shop on the planet, Murchies. :)