Text & Pics by Barb Jenks Triffon
Beauty by Jeffrey Woods & Mother Nature
Beauty by Jeffrey Woods & Mother Nature
"A safe fairyland is untrue to all worlds." ~ JRR Tolkien
While I can only guess at what this renowned English scholar and author meant, given his experience of living through two world wars, I believe safe fairylands do exist and can be enjoyed by anyone – if only for a few fleeting moments.
And, maybe, it’s the brevity of those special moments that makes them so memorable.
In a world punctuated by global terrorism, social/financial inequity and environmental degradation, I’m both thankful and reassured that safe harbors like Jeffrey Woods continue to provide a fairyland beauty - despite the world's dark and scary places.
And, maybe, it’s the brevity of those special moments that makes them so memorable.
In a world punctuated by global terrorism, social/financial inequity and environmental degradation, I’m both thankful and reassured that safe harbors like Jeffrey Woods continue to provide a fairyland beauty - despite the world's dark and scary places.
“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” ~ Anne Frank
For most people, including myself, no other season fills the heart with as much joy as spring.
And in places like Jeffrey Woods, it’s easy to be joyful as you become attuned with its small, yet powerful voice heard in the wind and felt in the vibrations underfoot.
Weeks before the first springtime bloom and chirping robin ever appear, the woodland
festers with a hard-to-describe feeling of anticipation.
Some have described it as an electric sensation that prickles nerve endings, an invisible presence that lingers just over a shoulder and even a shiver that causes hair to stand on end.
Truthfully, no other season works as hard or wields as much power just to be born. And for me, spring's sheer determination is part of the magic.
And in places like Jeffrey Woods, it’s easy to be joyful as you become attuned with its small, yet powerful voice heard in the wind and felt in the vibrations underfoot.
Weeks before the first springtime bloom and chirping robin ever appear, the woodland
festers with a hard-to-describe feeling of anticipation.
Some have described it as an electric sensation that prickles nerve endings, an invisible presence that lingers just over a shoulder and even a shiver that causes hair to stand on end.
Truthfully, no other season works as hard or wields as much power just to be born. And for me, spring's sheer determination is part of the magic.
Simply put ...
spring has sprung.
“She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
"Winter is dead.” ~ A.A. Milne
First out of the starting gate are the snowdrops. As they push their pristine white blooms through frozen ground, they look more like tiny fairies dancing in a winter wind than real flowers.
And after all these years, you'd think seeing the season's first snowdrops wouldn't make me so desperately happy, dreadfully weepy and strangely euphoric - but it always does. I'm forever and always thankful for these small, sweet miracles and never take them for granted.
Following their arrival, there's no turning back - regardless of winter's fury.
And after all these years, you'd think seeing the season's first snowdrops wouldn't make me so desperately happy, dreadfully weepy and strangely euphoric - but it always does. I'm forever and always thankful for these small, sweet miracles and never take them for granted.
Following their arrival, there's no turning back - regardless of winter's fury.
As the power of snowdrops breaks the spell at Jeffrey Woods and elsewhere - the magic of spring quickly unfolds with a host of fairyland blooms and colors that cover the forest floor.
The FORCE is unstoppable, the magic is indescribable, and winter has been sent packing.
The FORCE is unstoppable, the magic is indescribable, and winter has been sent packing.
“Hang in there. It is astonishing how short a time it can take for
very wonderful things to happen.” ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
very wonderful things to happen.” ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
Jeffrey Woods is just one of those places and spring is one of those times when fairylands come alive with a magic that can’t be described – only experienced.
Please enjoy some of my favorite past and
present springtime moments at Jeffrey Woods.
Better yet - visit soon. Spring is always a limited engagement.
present springtime moments at Jeffrey Woods.
Better yet - visit soon. Spring is always a limited engagement.
"Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale." ~ Hans Christian Andersen