Surprises
Surprises engage our memory and attention as routines
can not. They almost seem to alternate between good and bad. For
example:
Turning around mindlessly and suddenly facing a mass of
color from an azalea swarm.
A long drought where you suddenly realize that the
whole garden needs watering. NOW!
A late snow on newly opened flowers; an attractive
juxtaposition, photo-worthy for remembering years later.
A deep, heavy snow that breaks tree limbs and the
branches of bushes, leaving visible scars years later.
Azaleas with flowers in November or December, when
those plants were expected to go to sleep.
Tripping while jogging or slipped while gardening.
Photographing a giant, colorful garden spider with a
dew-covered web in the first rays of the sun.
Discovering last night's deer damage.
 |
| What's that weird thing? Surprise! It's a Luna Moth hanging upside down under a rose bush leaf! |
A large dragonfly warming up in the morning chill,
resting on a favorite plant.
A squirrel running up my pant leg while avoiding the
charge of another, sharp claws digging in, unaware I'm not a tree
until I bend over and scream at it.
Finding a garter snake, harmlessly wrapped around the
roots of a small azalea being transplanted, both ready to share their
sleep through the winter.
Planting some Japanese Maple seeds and, two years
later, still waiting for them to emerge. A slow motion
disappointment.
Receiving a free plant in the fall called 'Boring Pink'
and discovering the next spring that its flowers are bright white
with red flecking exploding all over. Like being asked to move from
coach into First Class to “balance the plane”.
Photographs delude us, pretending we well remember
people and places from our past. Surprises create true memories,
recreated in detail. For a moment, we are in the experience: cold
wind, warm sun and all.
