THIS FEBRUARY MORNING, with spring still months away in Minnesota, I crave a landscape flush with color. Snow gone. Spring flowers popping. Grass greening. Trees budding.
I think we all need a glimpse of warmer, sunnier days after a wicked weather week across much of our country. I feel, especially, for the people of Texas. The unseasonably cold weather of ice and snow wrought incredible challenges with no power, broken water lines, even death. I feel for anyone living in Texas.
Even though we’ve endured a lengthy stretch of subzero temps here in Minnesota, it’s just cold. Not destruction. Not heartache. We can manage and function and mentally remind ourselves that this won’t last forever. Temps are already rising.
With those thoughts, I searched my files for photos of spring flowers. To brighten your day. To bring you joy. To remind you that in every season of life, we face challenges which stretch and test and grow us. But we can, and often do, come out on the other side as better people. More empathetic. More understanding. More grateful than ever for life, even if it’s sometimes hard.
We push through the difficulties, often with the support of loving family and friends, to bloom color into the world. Or at least that is my hope.
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BE ASSURED THAT MINNESOTA looks nothing like the photos above right now. Snow layers the land in a landscape devoid of color. Under the snow and decaying leaves, spring flowers await warmer days when the frozen earth opens to the sun and sky.
© Copyright 2021 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I am hopeful for Spring, too. We’ve had a more serious winter than usual for us. But nothing like your Minnesota winters Grateful I don’t have to drive to work in dark mornings anymore.
I’ve seen some media coverage on winter in PA and it does look like you’ve had some unusual winter weather, for you.
Randy is thankful that he’s now driving home before dark and sometimes driving in the light to work.
Thanks for giving us a taste of spring. Pictures of bright, colorful flowers does the heart good!
I agree, photos of spring flowers lifted my spirits and I simply had to share.
Such lovely images!
Thank you, Teresa. And welcome to Minnesota Prairie Roots.
Can’t help but comment on your lovely plants!
Thank you.
I am looking forward to the beautiful flowers too!
I think we all are.
Thank you for the lovely pictures, Audrey. I’m ready for spring!! It is much warmer here now. I was very fortunate during this crisis. I have running, clean water and electricity. Thank you for your warm thoughts and love. Big hugs! ❤
I’m happy to hear all is well with you, Penny.
I thing we are all ready for spring no matter where we live, right? The are all so lovely. Thank you for sharing some brightness .
You are welcome, my friend. And thank you for sharing your joy in seeing your grandson for the first time.
Your pops of color make us all yearn for spring. Even the desert is shrouded in browns and beiges. I enjoyed your colorful photos.
Thank you, Sue.