Last Spring

This time last year we were in Europe visiting brother daniel in Wales. We flew into Birmingham and took the train to Aberystwyth where he was studying. I fell fast asleep once we got settled on the train but was soon woken up by the jerk of the train easing to a stop. Peeking through my sleepy half shut lids I saw rolling green hills speckled with tufts of cotton or more likely wool. It was lambing season and like a dream or a commercial for fabric softener or
something. The little lambs ran around like children at recess chasing the train as it passed. Wales was ethereal and so quintessentially spring. After a few days we traveled to London and spent Easter in Kensington Gardens. It was a stunning a sunny day, perfect for an English breakfast and a stroll through Hyde Park. Spring in London is supposed to be rainy but we lucked out with four sunny days. We were going to go to France next as this was intended to be a grand European museum tour to supplement brother daniel's art education. The fates intervened -France was foiled -we were going to Amsterdam! A few short hours later we were in the air watching the coastal islands pass below us. As we approached our destination the canals became visible. We looked out over Holland, the fields and canals looked like a sea of patchwork and ribbon. Squares of red, purple, yellow, and orange were all fields of tulips in full bloom!!! It was breathtaking. While we were in Amsterdam we visited the botanical gardens where saw my first Redwood tree! There were three tropical greenhouses ranging in temperatures, a butterfly house and acres to walk around and enjoy.
This Spring I am having fun watching the progress of a new garden and a new climate. In moments between the raking and the pruning I am revelling in the memories of Last Spring.