The Lull

     It is that time of the year when there is a lull between the myriads of daffodils that grace early and mid-spring and the multitude of iris that beautify mid to late spring.  As I walk, there are a few late daffodils that are still abloom particularly in Bed 2 and the Rock Garden.  Those are two of the areas that always "lag behind" the other areas--not that I mind.  (The Rock Garden is splendid right now--daffodils, thrift, quince, creeping phlox, periwinkle, spirea.  You should see it!)  There are also some dwarf daffodils hanging on--late bloomers.  And the green-eyed daffodils are always last to bloom.  As I walk, the iris are just in the bud stage--except for a few dwarf iris that start early.  In fact, the first real iris--a white with a rose tint that always blooms first--just bloomed today.  (It's close to the house so I'll take Mom on a beauty hunting excursion later today.)  Anyway,  it will be a while before the iris take the stage.  I can wait.  Each walk I check to see what new buds show up.  Hold your breath.  There's going to be quite a show if they all follow through.
     But what to do in the lull--in the in-between moments of daffodils and iris?  Trust me.  God fills the lulls with beauty too,  The red and white bleeding hearts are in full array.  The blue bells and pink and white coral bells are everywhere.  The camassia--their feet in water--are unfolding their purple loveliness.  The purple tall  allium unabashedly compete for the purple prize.  The crab apples--scarlet and white--are sheets of color.  The apple trees, too, are awash in white. The flowering almonds add a dapple of pink here and there.  Violets still carpet the ground in many areas--purples, whites, yellows, two-tones.  A tulip or two refuses to quit showing off.  The wild phlox are spreading everywhere.  There's even a stand or two of bittersweet--small but brilliant purples.  And a variety of yellow wildflowers that I have no idea what their name is.  I just call them beautiful, stick them in a vase, and let my mom enjoy them.
     Some lull!  How often in the "lulls" of life, in the present-tense "down times," have I by focusing on the past and anticipating the future, missed the glory of today?  Bring on the "lulls"!