After a screeching wind last night - one that upended a bird bath in the garden - dawn came quietly. The buds covering the magnolia tree out back somehow survived. These upright buds have always entranced me. In earliest spring, they split open in waves to reveal creamy flowers colored the palest of pinks, rose and mauve. In the semi-darkness of the morning, they seem to be shivering but maybe that was me. When the weather warms up and more of them bloom, it'll be showering pink petals.
But first it'll be cold. Then messy. The blossoms I admired this morning will tumble off, turn from pink to brown and make walking treacherous for my neighbors. All part of the season's start-up. In April, best experienced at dawn.
