Wildflowers Blooming in the Woods Fill My Soul with Joy

In response to Dancing Elephants prompt 19 of 52:

I love springtime after a winter of dull color. When leaf buds appear on tree branches, I have to go to the woods. My daughter, Chris, and I pack the car and drive to Mississippi Palisades State Park. Our miniature poodle, Rusty, accompanies us. When we see huge rock formations ahead, we know we’re close.

Rusty sniffs the air as Chris pulls into a parking spot. He can’t wait to get out and explore new sights and sounds. We put on hiking boots and I grab trekking poles. Rusty tugs the leash. He’s so excited. We cross a wooden bridge. The dirt path that takes us to a wonderland of delightful wildflowers is on our left.

The trail bisects decaying rotted leaves. The earthy smell penetrates my nostrils. Soon we come upon disturbed leaves, an uplift of green shoots poking through.

“Look, Chris, spring beauties are blooming.”

I love their delicate white flowers. They’re the first to proclaim “spring is here”. Curled fiddleheads announce the location of ferns among a rocky hillside. We stop to admire each treasured fine.

Then we come to some weathered steps. This was our primary reason to hike today. The entire woodland is ablaze with white trilliums as far as the eye can see. It must have taken years to propagate so much territory. They spread by underground roots. They’re not easy to transplant. I have tried with some success, but most cuttings fail.

We linger for a long time, imprinting the image on our minds and take pictures. Our footsteps take us higher along the rugged trail. White and blue are the predominant colors of these early blooming wildflowers. Tiny bumblebees pollinate the attractive blossoms. Flowers sense the presence of insects and secret nectar to draw them closer.

Soon we recognize bloodroots piercing a layer of dead leaves. The decomposition littering the ground is nature’s compost. It provides vital nutrients for the rebirth of these delicate flowers.

Our lungs get a workout as the trail steepens. This exercise invigorates our bodies. Rusty is having a great time. His little legs are closer to the ground and he has four of them. We step aside to let other wildflower enthusiasts pass. Ahead I spy another clump of white flowers.

“Why, they’re anemones!”

The decayed leaves remind me of the sorrows and cares of this world. But these spring bloomers carry a message of renewal, a new phase in our lives. They bring us joy and beauty, lifting my mood, making me feel carefree.

“Oh, look, I see some dutchman’s breeches!”

There are many in this particular section. Chris and I exclaim at the curious flowers. They do resemble upside down trousers, don’t they?

We top the rise and hike to the towering outcrops. They are a favorite for rock climbers to test their skills. Yes, we are fortunate to spot three climbers getting ready to rappel. It brings back memories of my own rock climbing in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho.

On our return trip we see some early blooming blue phlox. The sun is able to penetrate this high ridge better. It must have stimulated their growth.

“Wait — is that a jack-in-the-pulpit amongst them. What a fine, you shouldn’t be there yet. Maybe you’re dancing to your own drumbeat.”

We descend the trail that led us here, taking careful steps. It is full of loose rocks and muddy portions. Back at the shelter, we enjoy a picnic lunch under the warm rays of the sun. Our hearts feel good by the bounty of wildflowers we visited today. Hope you have enjoyed walking in the woods with us.

Flowers symbolize the beauty and love of God. Their energy uplifts our moods, making us happy. The Creator must have known we would need them to nourish our souls. When flowers are present in a room or our yards, our bodies react and become calmer.

After a stressful day from work in a medical facility, my daughter walks around our yard. She smells the roses and touches the feathery grasses. The colors of annuals and perennials attract her like a magnet. Her cardiac rhythm slows. She sits outside in a deck chair and feels the breeze. Birds entertain her at the feeders. Hummingbirds zoom towards the monardas and hostas. The wren sings for his mate. Squirrels play and leap from branch to branch. Our yard is a sanctuary for wildlife. It soothes and sustains our mental health.

The prompt — “Flowers bloom and fill life with positivity and joy.”

My gratitude goes out to the DEP editors Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Sharing Randomly, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, DR Rawson - The Possibilist, and Dr. Preeti Singh for their diligence.

Please read this beautiful post by Sahil Patel who reminds us to live each day as the treasure it really is.