Blooms of Promise

Blooms of Promise
            As a kid growing up in Upstate New York, I reveled in cold, dark winters. Snow country folk are a hardy bunch, the harshness of winter only making us stronger. Much as I loved winter, I was transfixed each year when somewhere from under the sparkling snow, daffodils would force their way up to the surface. Those green shoots and yellow buds were a perennial wonder to me, proving the power of spring blooms to overcome the forces of winter.
            Even climates without snow can have long, grueling winters with a damp cold that sinks into your bones. I complain about the cold in San Francisco more than I ever did in snowy New York, where we would comment that the temperature was finally rising UP to freezing.
            After a long stretch of chilly, gray days, seeing buds on trees lifts the spirits. Foreshadowing warmer days to come, we watch for plum blossoms in late winter and cherry blossoms in early spring.
            The stars of the show even during winter, however, are the dazzling magnolia blossoms that appear in many varieties and colors, whether in backyards or city parks.
            The annual show put on by glorious magnolias reminds us that the cycles of nature bring bold beauty even after the darkest, toughest stretches—indeed, even in the very midst of a difficult, chilling time.
            We take heart from the signs of beauty and goodness around us, and walk forward with a lighter step.
            This week’s Hike Notes are from the archives, Magnolia Stroll-San Francisco Botanical Gardens, leading visitors through an important and varied collection of stunning magnolia trees, interspersed with other wonderful plant varieties at San Francisco’s Botanical Gardens.
            The long list of Hikes can be found on the Quick View Hike List and on the main Hikes page. All past Insights posts can also be viewed in the Insights/Hike Update News archives.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Please feel free to share.
This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives:
(Original Hike Notes 46): Magnolia Stroll-San Francisco Botanical Gardens