Spring Flowers Bring...More Snow - MIssoula, Montana

Last week certainly blew through Montana with varied change - our first work-at-home Monday under statewide directive, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake next door in Idaho, sunny days followed by  widespread snowstorms  (with bonus deer bedded down in our townie yard!), a power outage that had us snuggling in for hours ...

And still it was spring, with grape hyacinths and other whatnot blooming and tulip leaves starting up through the snow. Even in the tiniest shred of earth in a crack in a cracked, dingy sidewalk, new life insists its message of hope be seen in brilliant quack-grass green. 
And amidst our global anxious wondering at what happens next, we hold on to hope, share wishes for a blessed Easter, and will say tomorrow, "Christ is risen!" - "He is risen, indeed!".

Daffodil Trio, Missoula, Montana

This vibrant daffodil trio looks to be in formation to trumpet out peppy horn concerto. (Definitely more rousing than the soothing Ricola anthem.)

Aging Beauty, Missoula, Montana

"...The creation waits in eager expectation... in hope that [it] will be liberated from its bondage to decay....But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." - Paul the Apostle, Letter to the Romans, Chapter 8

When I slow down to enjoy creation, I glean increased patience, desperately needed, as I am not so good at waiting. I guess the better thing to pray for is not patience, but hope, which excels at waiting.

(Plus, it seems that whenever I've prayed for more patience, I end up with a trying situation, which of course, provides the opportunity to exercise my weak-ish patience muscles....)

Grape Hyacinths in Full Bloom, Missoula, MT

Behold the grape hyacinths in all their charming fullness.

Windflower, Close, Hamilton, Montana

This windflower blossom reminds me of water lilies opening in the sun.

Grape Hyacinth Budding, Hamilton, Montana

Grape hyacinths are some of my all-time favourite flowers.
Next week, we’ll see their vibrant purpley-blues.

Fritillarria Bud, Hamilton, Montana

The fantastic fritillarie progress.

Pink Windflower, Hamilton, Montana

At least, I think these are a windflower variation. Could also be a Colchicum.
They’ve been visiting faithfully for years - you’d think I’d know their names!