You are my hero -- and much too kind. (I am so far behind in reading and ❤️ing on Substack -- but your garden and your imagination are my upcoming destinations!)
Lovely essay; and I understand your love for Bloodroot. It is similar to my love for birds. Not any particular species of avian, but all birds, those with a beak or bill. Although I do love my companion bird, Arya the Cockatiel the most of those with feathers. It's not really complicated. Thank you for this lovely essay.
Again, thank you. Your essay hits the mark of why nature heals and inspires me. Each season provides new things to capture our caring hearts- love if it works for you. Enduring hope for the pleasure of greeting it again.
Be careful what you wish for - we have had a small Sanguinaria patch under trees in our suburban garden for a long time. In the last two or three years they have suddenly made a bid for world domination ... presumably aided by a population explosion in garden ants.
Bryan, I know it's love when I unconsciously let out an audible ahhhh, upon gazing on certain flowers or birds, or sometimes at photos of them. The ahhh comes from deep inside and warms me like sloppy baby kisses (or in your case. Odon kisses). Where would we be without love?
I think the genuine feeling of euphoria makes it most like love. And I experience and know that euphoria particularly in the company of Bloodroot. (I'm still working on figuring it out!)
Welcome to the woo! Now no respectable scientist will give you the time of day and you will have no choice but to become a hemp-clad edgelord ;-)
But seriously, if we can't use the L-word, what do we have to live up to? Ecosystem function? Natural capital? Aesthetic and cultural values? Those aren't more scientific metaphors than the anthropomorphic ones, they're just more economic and mechanistic.
Ha! You're right, of course. But don't we too often deploy the L-world for stuff that probably doesn't warrant it? Maybe that weakens its meaning? So I guess I'm trying to reserve it for what really matters most to me. I've got biophilia for so much in nature (most things in nature, actually). It's powerful. But the Bloodroot thing is something different. It's euphoric. Wait -- so you love something you've never seen, right?
No, it's okay. It's unrequited -- but only for the moment. Anyway, we can hate things we've never seen in person ... you know, like viruses and wars. So let's have love be the antidote to that.
Yes... although arguably that also risks cheapening the word. But - thinking about it "it's creepy to talk about love so it's better to see you as a soulless object from which i and others can derive utility value..." does not succeed in avoiding the creepiness.
Appreciation of ephemerals is a model for being in the now and embracing this day, this moment. These flowers who manage to grab a lifetime of photosynthesis between the melting of the snow and leafing in of the trees symbolize life in our region and make a more appropriate state flower than the nonnative red clover. Let’s be bloodroot and Love this Day!
I was also head over heels this week as I gazed in wonder at how many of my patch of Bloodroots had doubled this year. There are a few singles still hanging in among the population, but the frilly mass was a thrill.
Same here! An exceedingly good year for Bloodroot. And I've got a few hanging on. Heavy rain would pretty much wrap things up. But many linger -- and I linger among them.
"A plant will not fix the world or put an end to my doubt and dread."
Maybe not, but I often think the love we feel for plants, birds, mountains, oceans etc is the only antidote for doubt and dread. So go ahead and have your fling with Bloodroot, Bryan, and keep sharing the love with all of us. We need it.
For me it's seeing the interactions between pollinators and flowers that gets me... A 150-million year-old act that we are blessed to witness. It beautiful, transformative and inspiring. 🥰🙏
You had me from the first sentence, my friend. Absolutely 'love' this.
And for what it's worth, I really, really like you.
You are my hero -- and much too kind. (I am so far behind in reading and ❤️ing on Substack -- but your garden and your imagination are my upcoming destinations!)
Lovely essay; and I understand your love for Bloodroot. It is similar to my love for birds. Not any particular species of avian, but all birds, those with a beak or bill. Although I do love my companion bird, Arya the Cockatiel the most of those with feathers. It's not really complicated. Thank you for this lovely essay.
Thanks, Perry. Yeah, this is sort of intense for me. So that was a really tough essay. (I normally don't write stuff like that.)
Again, thank you. Your essay hits the mark of why nature heals and inspires me. Each season provides new things to capture our caring hearts- love if it works for you. Enduring hope for the pleasure of greeting it again.
Thanks so much, Sue. I have one coming soon about love for Callophrys!
You have written exactly my thoughts - about "love, and about Bloodroot too. One hundred percent in agreement. Thank you, sir.
You are most welcome, Richard. So ... perhaps some universality here! Thanks for reading ... and writing.
Be careful what you wish for - we have had a small Sanguinaria patch under trees in our suburban garden for a long time. In the last two or three years they have suddenly made a bid for world domination ... presumably aided by a population explosion in garden ants.
First, a patch of woods. Then a forest. Next a suburban garden. And then ... The World! (Ants also roll that way.) 🤭😀
Bryan, I know it's love when I unconsciously let out an audible ahhhh, upon gazing on certain flowers or birds, or sometimes at photos of them. The ahhh comes from deep inside and warms me like sloppy baby kisses (or in your case. Odon kisses). Where would we be without love?
I think the genuine feeling of euphoria makes it most like love. And I experience and know that euphoria particularly in the company of Bloodroot. (I'm still working on figuring it out!)
Enjoying them through the dining room window as they bloom at the foot of the old lilac.
Anytime, any place! Awesome, Marcia!
AWEsome Bryan. Have been thinking it is almost time to walk north, where the hardwoods are, to visit these beauties.
As they wane here, I do indeed think about traveling north to meet up with them yet again.
What a lovely way to start the day. Thank you Bryan and thank you Bloodroot. Got my heart singing in the midst of world concerns around us.
A singing heart -- good for our souls. Thanks, Kathy!
Welcome to the woo! Now no respectable scientist will give you the time of day and you will have no choice but to become a hemp-clad edgelord ;-)
But seriously, if we can't use the L-word, what do we have to live up to? Ecosystem function? Natural capital? Aesthetic and cultural values? Those aren't more scientific metaphors than the anthropomorphic ones, they're just more economic and mechanistic.
Ha! You're right, of course. But don't we too often deploy the L-world for stuff that probably doesn't warrant it? Maybe that weakens its meaning? So I guess I'm trying to reserve it for what really matters most to me. I've got biophilia for so much in nature (most things in nature, actually). It's powerful. But the Bloodroot thing is something different. It's euphoric. Wait -- so you love something you've never seen, right?
yeeessss.... Very very badly. OK, yes it does feel weird putting it like that. Kind of creepy....
No, it's okay. It's unrequited -- but only for the moment. Anyway, we can hate things we've never seen in person ... you know, like viruses and wars. So let's have love be the antidote to that.
Yes... although arguably that also risks cheapening the word. But - thinking about it "it's creepy to talk about love so it's better to see you as a soulless object from which i and others can derive utility value..." does not succeed in avoiding the creepiness.
Nice work. The first Trilliums of the season in the Northwest always bring an unexpected flutter inside, not unlike a schoolyard crush.
Oh, yeah. For sure. Trilliums are like that. Like Rosalind Hurwitz for me back in high school. (It was unrequited.)
Appreciation of ephemerals is a model for being in the now and embracing this day, this moment. These flowers who manage to grab a lifetime of photosynthesis between the melting of the snow and leafing in of the trees symbolize life in our region and make a more appropriate state flower than the nonnative red clover. Let’s be bloodroot and Love this Day!
Indeed! And I guess we need some school kids for that change in state flower! Never fails!
I was also head over heels this week as I gazed in wonder at how many of my patch of Bloodroots had doubled this year. There are a few singles still hanging in among the population, but the frilly mass was a thrill.
Same here! An exceedingly good year for Bloodroot. And I've got a few hanging on. Heavy rain would pretty much wrap things up. But many linger -- and I linger among them.
I completely think you can love a plant, and you certainly have your reasons down. A lovely essay to read (no pun intended)!
Thanks! And let none of the other things I adore in nature be jealous! 😀
"A plant will not fix the world or put an end to my doubt and dread."
Maybe not, but I often think the love we feel for plants, birds, mountains, oceans etc is the only antidote for doubt and dread. So go ahead and have your fling with Bloodroot, Bryan, and keep sharing the love with all of us. We need it.
We do indeed need it. A lot. And it's right there within our reach! Thanks, Sarah.
Step up to a tiny ,bashful, little Bloodroot in bloom and repeat after me;
“ I love you”. See not so hard. We are all here to support you the next time you are unable to say the word to a plant.
So grateful for the emotional support! 😂
For me it's seeing the interactions between pollinators and flowers that gets me... A 150-million year-old act that we are blessed to witness. It beautiful, transformative and inspiring. 🥰🙏
Oh, that's wonderful. Yeah, plans and insects: among the greatest relationships in the history of the world!