This is the first growing season I’ve had garden space to grow cold season vegetables and flowers, and it’s been such a joy of green while everything else catches up. My peas are days away from beginning their tenacious climb up the trellis, my lilacs are on the cusp of gorgeous purple blooms, hummingbirds are visiting the feeder with the beautiful twill of their call and my trees are finally leafing out.

My Excitement knows it isn’t the only friend who calls my mental greenhouse “home”. Its partner Reflection holds just as important of a place right next to it.

My Reflection is wholly pensive. Its essence is calm, unhurried, and equal parts humble and self-congratulatory. Reflection is who I want to make space for here today.

This idea of nature’s quiet, slow preparation for when the environment becomes hospitable to growth again has plagued my mind recently. This forced pause that nature gives itself is beautiful. In most places, like where I live, our environments change. Seasons change, and the environment slowly becomes inhospitable to the rate of growth we love to see.