Ann Pollard Ranco Photography

I remembered to breathe this spring. Deep inhales that reach my belly, wishing I could slow down time, the rapidity of change… trading second for second as my rib cage rises and falls.

The first wave of ephemerals, I only caught a glimpse of. Bloodroot flowers, not open, upon return too late. It felt a little symbolic for me. I was sad to miss their full bloom this year.

And now, as forests carpeted by Starflower, Canadian Mayflower, and Bunchberry, it feels that I’ve caught up to the pace of spring. The tendrils of my heart have thawed from the long winter.

Flowering fruit trees emboss the landscape, and the enchanting tune of the hermit thrush signifies more change to come. Each day I see the moccasin flowers approaching bloom, and look forward to walking a special trail that is lined with them.

Before the Painted Trillium's final days of bloom, I had really hoped to come across one or two. Yesterday, I happened to catch a glimpse of one several feet off the trail and appreciated the opportunity to take a closer look.