Sunday, March 29, 2009

Promises, promises, promises...


Spring has kept her promise in two days’ heavy rain.
Unlocking the green on every branch,
nudging the graceful stems rising--topped with fat bundles, ready to burst.
And even in such a simple act as a stroll across the yard,
I can sense with every soft step, the fullness—
abundance waiting to be coaxed from the earth.

I walked on the night between them,
when a break in the clouds drew me up and out into the night air. With my flashlight catching every clean droplet, in colors so strong, wet beneath rain. Only the finest mist hung low, then, over the field, a lacy shawl gently wrapped around bare shoulders.
And, into a night sprinkled with stars, I stood between 2 owls calling.

Stepping out again the next morning, into a brief patch of sun, I find I was not the only one, busy in last night’s darkness. All across the field, wound thickly on tall brown stems, the work of small sheet-weaving spiders, snagging small drops from the heavy morning mist, setting this table with its finest.

A Collection of Bowl and Doily spider webs,
Frontinella communis






all photos click to enlarge

And, in the pools, the promise kept, of life’s return each spring.
From those who walk without a worry,
while I worry they will not walk.


Salamander egg masses in Little Pond Pool,
in different stages of embryonic development

Webs on Autumn Olive


Phoebe behind Pond

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18 comments:

jozien said...

Beautiful again Nina
both the pictures and your writing.
The weaving of the spiders, and the light catching it.

NCmountainwoman said...

Absolutely wonderful post, Nina. We've had three days of steady, gentle rain and I as well feel the promises the rain brings.

I love the photographs and the narrative.

Grizz………… said...

Amazing that you had two days of heavy while we only had brief drizzles and sprinkles that were as much heavy mist as light rain. Makes me a bit jealous. :-)

I especially like your pond photo and the first of your web shots—though, of course, as usual, the words and all the pictures are just lovely.

Kenton and Rebecca said...

Greetings Nina,

We have just discovered your blog, and are stunned at its beauty. Your writing is superb, your photography captivating. And we get to see lots of cool things like salamanders!
It's so inspiring -- we've added you to our 'Awesome Nature Blogs' blogroll, and are looking forward to continued explorations on your site!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Nina, are they really called Bowl and Doily spiderwebs? I've never seen or heard of such a thing. They are beautiful! I'll be looking for spider webs in the dew (as soon as it's warm enough for dew!)

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Lynne--Yes! Isn't that perfect? A thicker bowl-shaped sheet, with a lacy, fine doily beneath it!
You have to see these up close to appreciate the intricate work!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Another beautiful post Nina. I so enjoyed your walk about. The two owls calling took me back through Memory Lane to a place where I had many such encounters. Aaaahhhhhh Spring time. It gives us such hope for the future.

Kathleen said...

I don't have the words to say how beautiful and meaningful this post is. Your writing and photos are blessings.

giggles said...

Another wow!

I have never seen (noticed, anyway) the spiderwebs like that! I'll start paying more attention.... And the sally eggs...wow! So cool....

Sally said...

You have, once again, evoked spring... so glad to see the eggs!

From those who walk without a worry,
while I worry they will not walk.


Amazing words and pictures... but this says it best.

Kim said...

As always wonderful narrative and spider webs. I took some pictures of spider webs today too and thought of you while I did it. You have taught me to find beauty in the ordinary and get it on film. Thanks!

Kathi said...

The salamander eggs globs are so neat! Would love to find these in person.

~K

PS: Camera is en route!

Brenda Pruitt said...

How beautiful your words. And the fact that you notice all these little subtle signs of nature around you.
Brenda

Catherine said...

Beautiful captures & words!!
Enjoy the Spring!
Have a beautiful week!
Cat

Unknown said...

Nice finds, spotted salamanders are one of the species I miss most since I left the northeast. But, we do have marbled and mole salamanders in abundance, with tigers scattered. There are some spotted salamanders near here (Auburn, Alabama) but I have yet to see them, and their migrations aren't as tremendous as they are up north. Keep us updated.

Robin said...

Oh, how beautiful. Sometimes your writing just blows me away....

Thank you.

Julie Zickefoose said...

From those who walk without a worry
While I worry they will not walk.

Just love those two lines.

Why do we worry so much? The herps have it all under control. What a blessing, the egg masses. And I share your delight in bowl and doily spider webs. I have a mess of photos from the fall of just these things. Very photogenic on a dewy morning.

This is a superb post.
I, for one, never worry you won't walk.

Kathie Brown said...

Nina, such a lovely spring walk. Between your words and images I can feel the dew on my feet and the chill promise in the air.