Redbud

As long as I have even had memories of springtime, 
the redbud tree is one of things that I look forward to the most. 
I remember as a little girl, sitting and looking out my bedroom window, 
down across the vacant lot and into the neighbor's yard...
...where their gigantic redbud stood out from all of the other trees.

I love to see it's lovely purplish-pink blossoms...
...against the contrasting of shades of lime green of the other new growth.

source

Rides in the country are especially satisfying...
...where the forests are splashed here and there with their bright color.
Even more spectacular is when white dogwoods are also in the mix...
...giving yet another contrast.

Getting up close and personal to the redbud,
you can see what look like little pink mittens...and/or socks.
What an extraordinary God we have to have created these delicate little "buds"...
...each one unique, as you can see.

Trying to grow a redbud tree can be quite a challenge.
In fact, I have never been successful in doing so.
I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the red clay that makes up 100% of my yard :(
Now, if the Creator puts it there, that is a different story all together.

To this day, anticipating those beautiful, bright magenta blooms finally appearing,
is something that I do every year,
In fact, it is the one thing that the season's change brings that tells me without a doubt...
"Spring has arrived!"



One must enjoy this special brand of God's Eye Candy while it lasts...
...not more than a week or two...
...for each warm day brings those heart-shaped green leaves closer to the surface,
gradually replacing those brightly colored flowers.
For then and only then, the redbud is almost indistinguishable against the rest of the forest.
That is...until next year...
...same time, same place.

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THE REDBUD TREE
~Theodore Waterfield

There is a bending at the hill
where the redbud reaches to the sky,
and the earth lies silver still
and the soul breathes with a sigh.

It only comes in spring
when love and joy are new,
this lovely bending thing
that captures me and you.

Here I wish to linger
and hold you close to me,
near the bending river, 
and by the redbud tree.

What is your favorite sign of spring?
I pray my friends who are still covered with snow will soon find some!

Have a blessed Lord's Day!

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