Emerald Leaves

Summary

The author reflects on the beauty and multisensory experience of nature, particularly the sight of emerald leaves after rain, and expresses gratitude for growing up and still living close to the countryside.

Abstract

The article "Emerald Leaves" captures the author's deep appreciation for the natural world, describing a scene where sunlight illuminates emerald leaves still wet from overnight rain. This image evokes a sense of freshness and is likened to nature's finest artwork. The author reminisces about their childhood in the countryside, surrounded by birches, a lilac arbor, fields, a river, and forests, all teeming with various birds and wildlife. The sensory experience of nature, encompassing sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch, triggers a flood of childhood memories. The author emphasizes the enduring joy and comfort brought by living near nature, highlighting the continuity from their past to the present, with the same natural beauty now gracing their town.

Opinions

The author holds a profound connection to nature, viewing it as a multisensory and emotionally evocative experience.
There is a strong sense of nostalgia and gratitude for the author's rural upbringing, which is seen as a source of happiness and grounding.
The author believes that nature's beauty, as exemplified by the emerald leaves, is unparalleled and deeply enriching.
The article suggests that the author values the proximity to nature in their current life, indicating a preference for countryside living over urban environments.
The mention of specific natural elements like the birches, lilac arbor, and various birds suggests a personal and cherished relationship with these aspects of the countryside.

Nature’s Best Painting

Sun falling on emerald leaves still dripping from the overnight rain

It is an image of freshness. It is Nature’s best painting.

It is multidimensional — Sight. Sound. Smell. A warmth I can taste. A stillness I can touch.

I take a deep breath and childhood rushes in and kisses my blood.

And I am suddenly so very glad that I grew up in the countryside. Old, gnarly birches protecting our house. The lilac arbor and its heavenly smell, flowers white and blue and in-between in spring and early summer. Fields surrounding and a little river at the end of one of them; a small lake nearby; shallow, boggy, mossy, larger in spring, smaller come August. Forests within walking distance — large and mystical. In all directions.

Magpies, bullfinches, titmice, blackbirds, swallows, crows, the occasional hawk and even more occasionally, eagles — the one.

And here, all these years later: Nature in her most magnificent coat — sun falling on emerald leaves, still dripping from the overnight rain.

And I am so very glad I grew up in the countryside.

And I am so very glad I still live in, or at least only a stone’s throw from, the countryside.

Mammoth forests protecting our little town, where our sun now falls on emerald leaves, still dripping from the overnight rain.

Emerald Leaves

Nature’s Best Painting

Wolfstuff

So, who am I? Really really. I could tell you that I was born in northern Sweden during a snow storm, and subsequently…