Almond Blossom

Cassandra Gardiner: Fresh Light

Cassandra Gardiner returns with this week’s offering. Guest opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication. Ed


Steeped in the fresh scent of buds bursting on the branch, the early morning air is potent with new life. Sun-rays glow saturating the sky, whilst the day breaks open on a sleeping land. Fresh morning dew, daffodils harping beneath bunches of soft, pink, almond blossom, prettily perched on lichen-flecked branches.

As the greys and browns are out-shone by downy greens, soft purples, reds and golden yellows, notice is given, now it is time to begin. The chiming of seasonal bells calls forth, come out and frolic as the cyclical rhythm of nature gently unfurls.

A lovely day
Birds sing, announcing their intentions, before gathering twigs to nest their future offspring. The brown earth, moist from the rain, slowly warms giving safe harbour to new shoots and bugs as they return from their hiding places. Cheery ‘Morning’ greetings are exchanged and additional ‘what a lovely day’ rings true. The coming of the light, shares its outlook as the year ahead waits to be used.

On the beach the tides drift further out, exposing rippled gold sands, peri-winkles, barnacles and mussels suckered on stones and random concrete debris. Dotted between rocks, transparent pools glisten and display shells, pebbles and feathery, bronzed, seaweed.

The day welcomes all
On the sea-tips, a dreamy blue haze mingles with white lifting air, softening the light as it fades away the background. Mile-upon-mile of open shoreline, exaggerated by the climbing heavens and the lack of structure, beckons the walker.

Slowly the morning unwinds, while daytime extends and first light breaks before the waker rises. Greeted with radiance and views of baby blue sky, the day welcomes all, sharing its wares, everything to gain and on offer for the seeker who looks to find.

Saying goodbye to Winter
As the hours tick by, life rejoices from the wake of the cold. Shadows rise and fall, the town buzzes with shoppers and Easter eggs decorate the shelves, waiting to delight young faces with chocolate abundance and sweets within.

Sun-crusted evenings offer time to linger, listening to the sweet native songs that fill the clear, dusk air. With panache, nature leads the way, as we move from the drench of Winter into the delights of Spring.

To read more of Cassandra Gardiner‘s work, visit her blog.