Sunday 27 February 2011

In Search of Blossom

Firstly, to those of you who are new to this blog, I'd like to explain that I used to have a number of blogs. A few months ago I decided to bring all my blogs together into this space. This little story about blossom is the kind of post I would previously have put on 'Kites Are Fun' blog. I just wanted to explain why it's a little bit different to my usual kinds of posts.

Also, there is a giveaway at the end of the page for a small celebration!

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I could feel that change was just about to happen. I could see it. Tiny little buds of green growth everywhere. It had been another week of wet, grey days. I knew that if I put some of those little buds in a jar of water I’d be able to have some spring growth on my desk. And so I went in search of blossom. I walked through the roads, in the rain, to my green space. I didn’t go my usual route along the canal; I went into the big open ‘woodland’ paths. It’s an industrial sort of area with old waterworks leaving huge slabs of concrete. But nature doesn’t mind and has made her home there.


I inspected trees and bushes to see which had the most potential within their buds. There weren’t any blossom trees, but I found a willow with big white fluffy buds covered in rain. Perfect. As I walked through the paths I could hear all manner of bird song. I stopped to try and see which birds where in the trees. I saw two woodpeckers flitting between the trees together, stopping to find grubs at each tree. I watched them for a little while with willow in my hand and then began my journey home.

We got a sunny day. I knew that real change was underway. Those tiny buds I had seen around the streets would be turning into blossom. As I sat and wrote my essays, the sun shone outside. I’d been watching a blossom tree in the church yard. I’d seen the pink buds during the grey and rainy week. Pink buds hanging down like droplets. I knew that there would now be flowers on it now. I opened the windows to let the breeze blow through. The sun was getting ready to set and I couldn’t let that sunny day pass by, without taking a look at my blossom tree.

I walked over to the church yard and there it was. A mass of beautiful, delicate, pale pink flowers. I went back twice in the week just to look at those flowers. Those flowers which every year bring me so much joy, for when I look at them, I know that spring has arrived.


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In celebration of this being Today I Saw's 500th post I'd like to offer this little watercolour painting of blossom to one reader. Just leave a comment before Friday the 4th March and I'll choose a winner at random. Thank you for keeping me company for 500 posts!

38 comments:

  1. Beautiful!
    Is the blossom from a Judas tree??

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  2. you are the sweetest! i´m so despaertly longing for spring and those little buds everywhere... your story and pictures are just adorable!

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  3. What a great post and giveaway!I too have noticed the buds opening and there is one almond tree in full bloom in my school yard and some other little trees just opening their blossoms.It is fun watching them everyday and I take a photo every week to see the difference!Congrats on your 500th blog post and please count me in in the drawing of your watercolour.AriadnefromGreece!

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  4. Jill, I have been reading your blog from afar for a while now, and I just wanted to tell you, I love your work! The watercolor is beautiful and I would love to win it. I need some spring! Thank you :)

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  5. In my neighborhood, there is a pink house with pink fence posts and a big pink tulip poplar in the front yard. The tree is days away from full bloom and I can't wait to take a picture!

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  6. happy 500th post! very pretty print - thanks for the chance to win.

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  7. lovely watercolour, Jill. Are you sure you want to part with it? I can't believe the blossom has opened. Here in Perthshire, we have snowdrops and in the heat and sun of the weekend the daffs have grown in front of our eyes but are still no where near opening.

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  8. Beautiful watercolour! I love springtime too and i'm so happy when the first signs of spring are visible or when i hear springtimebirds sing early in the morning.
    That really makes my day!
    Greetings, Anita
    The Netherlands

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  9. I love drawing flowers as you.
    I saw a magnolia tree in blossom this week, it was gorgeous but I have no time enough to draw some flowers.
    Your watercolour is like the promise of spring soon.

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  10. It's beautiful. I hope I get to see it in person sometime soon!

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  11. Yay to pink blossoms! Your post reminded me of waiting for spring in San Francisco. The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park would be full of beautiful pink blossoming trees, a real treat. My University was within walking distance so I got to enjoy the park a lot. I've just realized they have a blossom update at their website. http://japaneseteagardensf.com/
    Now I can see them again!

    Your painting is such a sweet harbinger of spring. And I really love the woodpeckers too, they're such a fun site to see - especially in the city!

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  12. Your illustrations are so dear! I've been seeing tiny buds all over my city lately. Hope my gawking doesn't frighten them off!

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  13. happy 500! i love seeing your drawings and reading about your days. thanks for sharing!

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  14. Those pictures are simply beautiful! I love them. Especially because where I live we still have a month or so of winter!

    Enjoy your beautiful spring days! It's one of my very favorite seasons. :)

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  15. Jill - these paintings are beautiful. I wanted to thank you for inspiring me to the point where I finally got "off my duff" and began learning to draw. When you put your head on your pillow tonight, think to yourself "I inspired somebody, today" - it's a really big thing. Thank you. Carolina

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  16. Your artisitic talent is lovely-and inspiring. Just today I was thinking I should have a coffee-press cozy and wondered where to find one. Then I thought of your recent delicate stitching posts and realized hey wait a minute, I could make one! I will let you know how it goes.
    Your painting is lovely and I hope, hope, hope spring comes soon.
    :)

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  17. If I were so lucky! It would go so well in my cherry blossom theme bedroom.

    Beautiful post nonetheless!

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  18. oh I would love to get this !!!

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  19. As much as I love your almost daily postcard-posts - the formerly "kites are fun"-posts spread a calm, grateful, satisfied feeling that makes me sit back and remember to be open to these kinds of experiences in my own life. Thank you for that!
    I am currently building up a little art-wall in my apartment and would love to give your blossoms a place in it.
    Love, Katharina

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  20. what a beautiful post, jill- i loved reading it. and those watercolours you've done there are beautiful- so delicate!

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  21. Hi from Alaska,
    It is still the Frozen North up here with no sign of spring at all. We are getting more sunshine everyday though. My little birdies are happlily eating at the feeders. No buds yet. I would love to win a Spring painting to remind me it is on it's way. Happy days to you!

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  22. like to join in this give-away, so far only snowbells here in the netherlands under a very grey sky...

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  23. hello my friend, congratulations on the 500th post !!!!
    I am not taking part to the giveaway, I have been way too lucky already, so I'll leave the chances to others
    I just wanted to say here how much your blossom paintings were beautiful & so well captured !
    xoxoxo

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  24. Hi Jill, I'm a new follower of your blog and want to thank you for often cheering up an otherwise dull day in the office. Desperate for Spring to start peeping through here in Sussex - we have crocuses and snowdrops at the moment, but so far that's it. Really want to see some colour after this drab, grey winter!

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  25. What a beautiful post Jill - your little paintings are so delicate, lovely and evocative of Spring. 500 posts! Many congratulations. I've only been around for a few months but it's been a great treat. I hope you don't mind popping my name in the hat - I'll be keeping all my fingers and toes crossed.

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  26. you have the lightest of touch Jill:
    springtime glimpses:
    sweetly rendered and told:
    {cherry blossom pink is the colour I want to dye my hair}

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  27. Congratulations on your 500th! Love that you're looking for spring over in your neck of the woods; we're doing the same here. I felt hopeful this morning when I heard the birds chattering away like crazy this morning.

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  28. What a sweet story, glad your keeping up the bird watching. The paintings are lovely.The difference between London and the Scottish Borders ! We think it's wonderful to see all the snowdrops and crocuses flowering, no sign of blosssom. m.x

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  29. A beautiful post about spring in the air. Love your watercolours.

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  30. we are also longing for spring her in switzerland. the first flowers are out, there name is schneeglöcklein ( little bells of snow) and they are a truly sign of saying good bye to mister winter and his friends...please pick me....greetings from far away,veronica

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  31. I'm new to your blog and it is just gorgeous. Thankyou for making me smile :-)

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  32. Is spring really that close! I can't wait for the blossoms to arrive here. We have streets lined with Japanese cherry trees and when they blossom the streets are filled with petals - it looks like it is snowing!

    Thanks for making me feel a little more spring and a little less winter.

    Thea
    xo

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  33. Oh it's so pretty! Congratulations on 500 posts, and hope you're having as much fun as we are reading them!

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  34. How beautiful! Despite almost a foot of snow, the robins keep trying to remind everyone here that spring is soon....we keep trying to believe them!

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  35. five hundred gloriously perfect posts, hopefully hundreds more.

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  36. you are so talented jill
    i can't wait to read/see the next 500

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  37. Oh that's SO beautiful!! Both the story and the drawings. Love love LOVE ♥

    (and congratulations on 500 posts ~ wow!!)

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  38. Too late for the drawing....but not to late to say that I just found you today...you have a lovely blog...love your drawings and your words...have a lovely spring!

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