"Rhododendron Morning" (Image and Text Copyright Wylddane Productions, LLC)
The rhododendron has begun to bloom.
Each spring, it arrives quietly and then suddenly—its blossoms opening like delicate fans, spilling forth in shades of cream and gold that remind me of orchids kissed by the sun. This morning, as I looked out upon the newly opened petals of the single rhododendron in my yard, I felt a quiet awe. There’s something both ancient and utterly fresh about these blooms—a whisper of history carried on a spring breeze.
Rhododendrons have been part of the earth’s tapestry for at least 50 million years. Once they stretched wide across North America and Eurasia, thriving before climates shifted and mountains rose. They’ve inspired folklore across continents—seen by some as warnings, by others as pure beauty. Their evergreen leaves, graceful stems, and striking flowers have long been cherished. Even now, botanists continue to unravel their secrets, realigning species and discovering new depths through genetic study. And yet, here in my own garden, there is just one—and it is enough to fill my morning with wonder.
It is remarkable, really, how a single blossom can carry the legacy of millions of years, and how something so quietly alive can speak so loudly to the soul.
There are lessons wrapped in the petals. The rhododendron’s presence reminds me of the richness of life and the enduring presence of the Divine. I live in a world that brims with goodness and beauty, not only in the natural world that bursts forth each spring, but in the kindness of strangers, the generosity of friends, the unexpected smiles and quiet acts of grace that fill an ordinary day. This awareness sharpens my perception; the more I notice the beauty around me, the more it seems to come alive.
And so, as this day begins, I pause to give thanks.
For this bloom.
For this moment.
For this ancient miracle flowering anew in the morning light.
“There is a force in the universe, which, if we permit it, will flow through us and produce miraculous results.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
~Wylddane
Each spring, it arrives quietly and then suddenly—its blossoms opening like delicate fans, spilling forth in shades of cream and gold that remind me of orchids kissed by the sun. This morning, as I looked out upon the newly opened petals of the single rhododendron in my yard, I felt a quiet awe. There’s something both ancient and utterly fresh about these blooms—a whisper of history carried on a spring breeze.
Rhododendrons have been part of the earth’s tapestry for at least 50 million years. Once they stretched wide across North America and Eurasia, thriving before climates shifted and mountains rose. They’ve inspired folklore across continents—seen by some as warnings, by others as pure beauty. Their evergreen leaves, graceful stems, and striking flowers have long been cherished. Even now, botanists continue to unravel their secrets, realigning species and discovering new depths through genetic study. And yet, here in my own garden, there is just one—and it is enough to fill my morning with wonder.
It is remarkable, really, how a single blossom can carry the legacy of millions of years, and how something so quietly alive can speak so loudly to the soul.
There are lessons wrapped in the petals. The rhododendron’s presence reminds me of the richness of life and the enduring presence of the Divine. I live in a world that brims with goodness and beauty, not only in the natural world that bursts forth each spring, but in the kindness of strangers, the generosity of friends, the unexpected smiles and quiet acts of grace that fill an ordinary day. This awareness sharpens my perception; the more I notice the beauty around me, the more it seems to come alive.
And so, as this day begins, I pause to give thanks.
For this bloom.
For this moment.
For this ancient miracle flowering anew in the morning light.
“There is a force in the universe, which, if we permit it, will flow through us and produce miraculous results.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
~Wylddane
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