How do you keep your heart warm?

"How can those who do not garden, who have no lot in the great fraternity 

of those who watch the changing year as it affects the

earth and its growth, how can they keep warm their hearts in winter?"

- Francis King

If you saw this

you might think it beautiful

but doesn't it warm your heart to know that in April

it will be transformed to this?

On seeing this hydrangea, still nearly perfect in form, though lacking color

are you sad for the loss of what was?

Or does it fill you with joyful anticipation of what will be?

There's a delicate and almost fragile beauty in what remains

But, ahh, what softness and color in the young bloom!

"Turn down the noise. Reduce the speed.

 Be like the somnolent bears, or those other animals that slow down 

and almost die in the cold season.

 Let it be the way it is. The magic is there in its power."

- Henry Mitchell

I will turn down the noise and let it be, 

knowing that the cycle of life goes on and Spring will come.

********************************

I have winners from the Moonflower seed give-away!

The winners are:  

Amy of Go Away!  I'm Gardening 

and 

Carla of The Country Diary of a Southern Lady

Just send me a message with your mailing address via the e-mail link on my profile and I will get the seeds off to you!  Thanks so much to everyone who left me a comment on the Moonflower post.