Our daughter, Cali, can delay gratification longer than anyone I know. Candy (good kinds) can stay under her bed for months. And when the last Harry Potter book came out she allowed herself to read ONE chapter a day so as to make it last (and she read while sucking on one piece of sour licorice from the stash under her bed). I’m not very good at delaying gratification—the only thing better than one helping of mashed potatoes is two.
Nature is an expert on delayed gratification. In our yard, first she gives us the crocus blooms, followed days later by the daffodils, then the tulips. While the tulips are blooming, the cherry tree blossoms open. Just as the cherry trees start to fade, the pear trees bloom followed by the peach and apple trees and the narcissus. As the fruit tree blooms die away, the lilacs open and then the irises. Then come the pretty white-flowering bushes (I don’t know their official name) and the day lilies, soon after the little purple potato blooms pop open in the garden. After the potato blossoms fall, then the flowers in the garden start their chain reaction—first the bachelor buttons, then the zinnias, followed by the marigolds and ending with the wildflowers. It’s harmonious and sustaining.
I’ve been thinking it’s a good thing I’m not in charge of the blooms calendar. If I were I suspect we’d have a blossom explosion followed by months of dearth and drought.
6 comments:
I loved reading about the progressive blossoming! It is so true and I love mother nature for it.
When it comes to spending money, I am the queen (with much help from the king) of delaying gratification. When it comes to mashed potatoes, not so much ;)
my white azalas are in full bloom and so very pretty. I try to take time to enjoy them because they are gorgeous for only a short amount of time
such a pretty picture. no blooms here, but berries all over my back yard that turn to sticky jelly under your shoes. we have some sunflowers gaining strength though
Aunt Jane,
Can you believe that it is finally 75 degrees here and we have 16.5 hours of sunlight!? Nothing is blooming yet, but I can see that the trees are really really really trying! I can easily delay gratification when it comes to sweets....I would much rather have something salty! Then there is no delaying whatsoever! Also there is no delaying a hit 80's song....iTunes kills me on that one!
My rhodedendrons are blooming and my tulips and daffodils are just finishing. My hostas are just peeking up through the dirt. I need instant gratification! I love paint and wallpaper for that very reason. As for food, it calls to me from the cupboard or where ever I hid it and then it's gone.
Oh...I am exactly like you. but, I'd be sad if nature was. I love its control and I need Cali to teach me a thing or two about candy control. seriously? I can't even imagine.....
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