The recent soft rains of mid-April have brought out the spring flowers. Only a week earlier the ground was covered in a thick layer of snow. And before that, the monochromatic landscape had been warming and the river had grown misty…

My sister then reminded me of a German saying: April macht was er will: April does what it wants. I had to laugh. It certainly was doing that.

The saying April showers bring May flowers, is equally relevant. Perhaps a more realistic phrasing would be April showers bring April flowers; because here they are, in all their beauty and glory! In the riparian woodland, the marshes and swamp forests …

Many of these delicate flowers can be found in the mixed hardwood forests near my house as they push through the dead layer of leaves, twigs, branches and seeds of winter. Cheerful splashes of bold colour amid the tender greens of new leaves. Mauves, deep purples, bright yellows and pinks bring joy to the monochromatic winter forest, and herald the first signs of Nature’s awakening.

Spring is here!