do pluck the pansies….
I love this time of year when endings and beginnings
and yet-to-be’s hang clustered on cold branches.
(fat healthy buds waiting alongside the last leaf clinging
…..God, this whole season thing turns me on!)
Do you feel it……the year sighing? the soft heave of breath?
The last leaves drop,
plump, plump, plumping up pillow for sleep,
sinking into sanctuary,
seeds scattered,
until time to sprout again.
“Don’t despair dormancy,”
I tell anxious customers who fear their beauties have died,
turning brown and crispy
(and my own soul when my crispy parts drip discouragement).
Somehow Love sends pansies.
…..little shots of hope
with bright faces fluttering true
like candlelight on dark wintry halls,
lullabyes in the night.
DO pluck the pansies……pick those pretties and they’ll bloom all the more.
(Hope is funny that way, too.)
And, hey, come on over and pick some of these
to nourish your heart while cold winds blow.
Check out Amanda Falls of Persistent Green‘s new online magazine Sprout!
SO much shiny goodness……and I got to sprinkle some seeds in the first issue!
and
I’m having a giveaway.
I’ve been too shy to try it before.
But I really believe in the message of Michele Bergh’s
Prosperity Blooms e-course
and I want to one of you to take the class with me!
If you’ve already joined your bright picture to the sidebar of my blog,
big sunny thanks…….your presence is joy:)
If you’ll leave a comment, I’ll drop your name in the hat for a chance to win.
If you haven’t already joined my blog, please do!
That will plop your name in the hat.
(I’d love to hear from you, too…..always, always)
I’ll show you who wins in next week’s post.
if there were spring blossoms all year, we would tire of them
they would become boring, mundane, ordinary
it is only in the fact that they show up once a year that we value them
scarcity makes of many things a prized possession
Love sends pansies . . . oh yes, yes she does. And you are one of those brilliant flowers in my life.
Thank you, sweet Jen, for the Sprout mention–and for adding your lovely seeds to its pages.
So… you know it’s not fair, right?
Snow falls, blanketing the earth in glistening white…
and you have pansies blooming?
I mean, seriously.
not right! 🙂
I’m dropping my name in the hat — taking a course with you would be absolutely bliss! In snow or pansies blooming — absolute bliss.
i love that thought about how when we pluck pansies they will bloom all the more.
i need to engage in my life to bloom wildly! praise be for pansies!
you are gorgeous, dear friend!! love to all your petals. xox
Just planted our winter pansies, they never let me down with their happy smiling faces right through until late spring. Off to pick some now 🙂
Lovely pansies. They’re huge! Lovely poem. What a wonderful give-a-way! Thanks for the chance to win.
Dropping my name in the hat 🙂 Your blog inspires me to look for beauty in every day life. Too often we rush through our day until our head is spinning.
Thank you for reminding me to reflect.
You are such a joy, Jennifer! YOU bring hope, just like the beautiful pansies. A course with you would be joyful! Oooooh! (and big thanks for your kind comment about my interview. I amswered questions when I had my shyness squelched down, and then afterwards I felt REALLY scared and shy. I do know that learn the most when I push myself…it was then fun, and I was honored… !) Thank you!! Kath
What gorgeous bright colors and a wonderful testament to endings and beginnings. As always – a beautiful and inspiring post.
what pretty pretty flowers! i too love this time of year…so much to contemplate
I LOVE your Welcome Christmas artwork. It is exceptional. Lots of lovely flowers and beautiful words to shine on my day.
Love this from you tonight, Jen…..so much Hope and a steadying reminder of the way Things Are…..
thank you for the deep breath, my friend,
always so grateful for you,
Liz <3
Oh what lovely words and images Jennifer! It really is a juxtaposition of endings and beginnings! This is the time of year as I said in my post, that I always feel renewed, and recharged, amd somehow sad that the year is ending, but excited for the new one to start! Anticipation of another ‘fresh start’ and chance to right the wrongs and get it RIGHT this time. Happy Day to you!
you know, as much as i love color, i love this time of year…like things are going underground for maintenance, knowing they will burst for with glorious color in a short time.
we need a time of going underground…
oh yes, please plop my name in the hat!!
your words are so lovely as always!! I especially love how you described pansies… “little shots of hope”…so beautiful!!!
They are like hope, the more you pick the more you get. I love that inspiration. I’ve always loved pansies as they were my grandmother’s favorite flower and their sweet faces bring her sweet face to mind every year.
oh so true ..pansies make life in the winter so special ..LOVE that first photo as well! as always I leave this space with a happy heart!!
Beautiful pansies. Lovely images.
So much love blooming here to brighten the heart on this cold December day.
Beautiful artwork, beautiful pansies… love your writing and photos. xoxo
Jennifer……. what a lovely give-away. I would be honored to be included. Your pansies are gorgeous…. as is all your photography and artwork, and those pansies in the little crystal vase is just the sweetest! Last year I tried winter pansies, but the squirrels, in their nut hiding frenzy, would not leave them alone. Also, when I planted them in the old cement pots on our steps, out popped a toad already dug in for the winter. I felt so bad about disturbing him. One last thing…. I’ve been remiss in getting your new blog address set up properly on my sidebar. I’ll get to fixing that right now! Thanks for dropping by and leaving your lovely comment…
xo
dulcy
It’s kind of difficult to embrace the whole change of season thing here in central Florida….but I’m trying, and your pictures and words help so much!
Jen,
Seriously … those colors … so much life … so much strength … they WILL be back again.
I loved your pansies. They reminded me of my snapdragons. I have fond memories of playing with the snapdragons in my grandmother’s garden when I was young. They grew near her front porch. They always sang to me when I visited her. Several years ago, I planted a few snapdragons in the front of our home. The next year, I noticed they were growing in places where I did not plant them and in colors I did not see before. The following year, they were growing on the sides of my home and stretching out into the back yard. I’m sure you can image how abundant they were in my front yard. All the growth makes me feel my grandmother’s presence. I am looking forward to their “yet-to-be’s” .
Thanks for making me think of my beautiful snapdragons and my grandmother.
Have a magical holiday.
xoxo
Funny how hope keep growing…Your beautiful pansies are filling my hear with hope this morning.
Such an inspiring post, Jennifer 🙂
Thank you
Jennifer, what beauty! Again, your words cluster like golden bokeh begging to be picked, each piece a tasty morsel. Your happy pansies brightened a wintry day.
Your images today are incredible. Just inspiring. I’ve got to get out with my camera. I love you, friend.
Oh, I really needed to read this today – my soul has crispy parts dripping a little discouragement. Thank you! And toss my name in the hat – I glanced at the first few words of the description and knew it was something I could use! Thank you for offering it!
Dear Jennifer, I would love to drop my name in the hat and take the course. I need some Prosperity right about now!
And less despair…Your photos help me, and so does your friendship.
XOXO
So much beauty and joy here today! I myself was feeling a bit brown and crispy, but the site of pansies,wow pansies! turned them around!
Thank you for the beautiful images, the giveaway 🙂 and for the joy you bring to the world!
Such a beautiful post. Every time I shared it, I smiled at those pansies. A big congrats to Marion (I just sent you an email) on winning the giveaway. If there’s anyone else here who would like to participate, email me privately to receive a $7 discount! That’s just $20 for 2 people!! Here’s to a prosperous life for all.