Forsythia, Forsythia, Forsythia...
I've been admiring the Forsythia for about a week now. They were just starting to peek through the leaves on their glorious branches, and today they're in full bloom. On Friday, I dropped my students off at their art special and to my amazement, the art teacher had a sample of a Forsythia project she was going to make with them. They we going to make Forsythia out of yellow tissue paper, and glue them to branches in a vase. I spent the whole week noticing Forsythia everywhere, and my students would be creating that very thing in art.
I started thinking about why I get so excited when the Forsythia start to bloom. The typical reason is because it's one of the first signs of spring. When the Forsythia start to bloom, I know spring is around the corner. Then it occurred to me that it reminds me of my childhood. When I was little, we had Forsythia bushes in our yard. I always thought the flowers were bright and beautiful. I remember spending many spring days making mud pies. I would use the pans that came with my Easy Bake Oven as a mold. I would put dirt and water in one of the pans and stir the mixture with a stick as if it were cake batter. I would turn the concoction upside down onto a surface like our picnic table, and lift the pan away, leaving a perfectly round mud pie. I would then collect a few Forsythia branches from a nearby bush, and use the delicate flowers to decorate my pies. The end result would be a masterpiece. So, when I see the Forsythia in bloom, I think of spring and great childhood memories. Do kids still do that? Make mud pies?
I hope so.
They certainly do trumpet in spring. Wouldn't it be great if they could be a yellow flowering bush all summer?
ReplyDeleteOh, if they could only last the entire summer. That would be a dream. The flowering trees in spring are spendid too. Love this time of year!
DeleteI like how you reflected on the beauty and then remembered your childhood. What a delight. Your description created a clear visual for me.
ReplyDelete(Friends of ours who have young kids make mudpies still.)
I'm so glad to hear that. My daughter, now 17, didn't really make mud pies when she was little. She was more of a barbie girl. Barbie had lots of outdoor adventures though:)
DeleteYou are so right that forsythias are a symbol of spring. I look for the forsythia blossom every spring because it is the first bit of color. However, this year it is having to share with many other blooming shrubs.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Elsie. So many shrubs are already in bloom this year thanks to the wonderful weather we've been having. I should try to capture it more in photos. Next winter/spring may be a different story.
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty flowers! I love yellow, especially in the spring time. And, I love the word "peek" used to explain flowers in the spring time!
ReplyDeleteI'm just crazy for these flowers. They're so cheerful they put me in a good mood:)
DeleteYellow is my favorite color, so I love both the daffodils and the forsythia. There are two bushes right by the road as I drive to school and they are one of the first signs of spring!
ReplyDeleteYes, they are a wonderful site. I love how they usher in spring every year.
Delete