Born For This Season

It was Noel’s window to the world. In her living room was a bank of floor-to-ceiling windows that opened to the south side of her home. These windows were free of blinds and curtains so sunlight could enter and Noel could look out to a vista of man-made architecture and nature’s creation.

The man-made architecture was a cluster of townhouses clothed in snow white siding with taupe tinted trim that highlighted their architectural curves. If the siding and trim were an outfit—their top hat was the green roofing shingles that completed the ensemble.

There was an assortment of shrubbery nestled close to their foundations. Some shrubs wore a perpetual coat of green because they never let go of their leaves. Others shed their coats of green to reveal delicate branches in colors of grey, brown and deep maroon woven into intricate patterns.

A suitable distance from the foundations and shrubs were trees. Like a beard’s stubble that casts a shadow on a man’s cleanshaven face the trees hinted they would soon display nature’s gift. The majestic maple and oaks wore a green-tinted beard stubble that promised the release of unique leaves. The fruit trees wore a pink-tinted beard stubble that promised to release tiny fruits to delight a host of nature’s creatures.

Noel’s attention was drawn to the movement of dry leaves near the foundation of her home. She discovered the cause of that movement was a squirrel doing the landscape crew’s job—picking up dry oak leaves—not for lawn maintenance but to build its nest. It grabbed a mouthful of leaves and headed up the trunk of one of those majestic oak trees.

Her cement birdbath collected water from a light rain and a red-breasted robin flew to the edge hoping there was enough water to jump in and take a bath. But discovering the water level too shallow—took off to continue its search.

Noel, realized it wasn’t a calendar that revealed a new season—it was what nature revealed outside. Recognizing the change of season, her thoughts immediately went to how she would respond to this new season.

With the sight of that robin, she knew it would soon be time to keep that birdbath filled with water. The birdbath kept more than the robin happy because it was a huge draw for finches, starlings, cardinals and doves for bathing and drinking.

Noel thought of the flowering plants she purchased last spring, only to find out they weren’t happy with the shade provided by the majestic trees. With this experience she learned what plants to select this spring to thrive with tree companions.

She also decided not to engage in a battle she couldn’t win. The chipmunks and squirrels overcame all repellents and strategies to keep them from digging into patio planters and eating the colorful, blooming flowers. There would be no patio planters this season.

Looking out that bank of floor-to-ceiling windows revealed to Noel nature’s new season. She savored the time to reflect on how she would respond to the change of season. She would be prepared!