Leaving the house early this morning, My sweater was insufficient for the unexpected cool air, heavy with dampness. Unable to ignore the discomfort or power through it, the chill lingered. But it did evoke fond memories of camping over the years — images of leaving the warmth of my sleeping bag at dawn to rekindle ashes from the previous evening’s fire and huddle next to its warmth, sipping hot coffee — the slow process of warmth gradually overcoming the chill within — bringing life to the new day.
On my return walk home, a neighbor’s oak leaf hydrangea, growing in her wooded front yard caught my eye. It’s just now beginning to flower. Unlike the more common spherical flower cluster hydrangeas, originally from China — the oak leaf hydrangea is native to the Southeastern United States. Its flower cluster is conical (not spherical), and it thrives in shadier wooded locations.
The species name, quercifolia, is Latin for oak leaf. The plant’s genus name comes from the Greek word hydor, meaning water, and aggeion, meaning vessel, which refers to the fruit capsule. The species name indicates the resemblance of its leaves to that of the oak tree (Quercus).
NC State Extension Gardener
Tradition has it that Hydrangea quercifolia will be in full bloom for Mother’s Day; only two weeks from now! I think the signs of the first few blossoms on my neighbor’s oak leaf hydrangea reveal it’s right on schedule.
But my wife and I have our attention directed toward a very special Mother’s Day much closer at hand — in fact, maybe it will be today, maybe tomorrow. Our son and daughter-in-law who live locally, are expecting a new baby, now a bit past the due date. The baby girl will leave the warmth of her own sleeping bag womb and enter this, at first chilly world, only soon to discover the love and warmth of being held close to her own mother’s breast.
We hope, pray, anticipate, and marvel at the mystery of life ever renewing. The Divine ever reinforming.
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