VIBGYOR?

I was having one of those days.  Walking home, feeling overwhelmed, it suddenly occurred to me that this was probably the most beautiful day we'd had all year.  I made myself stop and take a moment, push the sadness aside enough to really see what was around me.  A clear bright blue sky, a world flooded with sunshine, European starlings sitting on the telephone wire adding their unique voices to the others, robins out looking for an evening meal, blue and purple crocus buds ready to burst.  One thought led to another.  blue and purple spring flowers.  As a girl I thought that maybe the flowers followed the same color progression as the rainbow.  Well, the same but backwards.  VIBGYOR.  First the blue and purple flowers.  Crocus, grape hyacinths, scilla.  Then green as the trees begin to leaf out.  Next yellow.  Daffodils, forsythia, and iris.  Finally orange and reds.  Poppies, peonies, bleeding hearts, and tulips.  Maybe even the seasons followed the pattern.  Winter's blue tones, spring and summer awash in green, and fall's bright yellows, orange, and reds.

Of course it's not that simple.  There are yellow crocus and peonies.  Yellow and burgundy iris and a wide variation of tulips.  But the idea of a overarching unity is irresistible.  There is a rhythm to the blooming and it's worth the time to pay attention and enjoy the unfolding.  It can change your day.