In Vermont, in May, the green comes slowly followed by blossoms, and daffodils, and tulips, and lilacs in succession. It is bucolic and intoxicating to behold after being surrounded by brown fields and bare trees after the snow is gone. Everyone is in a celebratory mood.

I have devoted my time to drawing and painting as spring has unfolded.

I’ve had three opportunities to paint in an orchard, our own, and Sunrise Orchards where I painted alongside Jill Madden, an inspiring painter who almost always paints plein air all over the place in all seasons. I fell in love with her paintings of the orchard from last year and asked if I could join her. Lucky for me she said yes.

Painting our orchard from a driveway perch

I am learning by painting often. Still life spring flowers in my studio, and landscape outside in the orchards. Every time I sketch outside, I write something like, “I feel so lucky to be out here.” People say that their dogs make them get outside. We don’t have a dog and I miss that. Now, plein air painting is what makes me get outside and pay attention and loose myself in the light, the space, and the atmosphere…the trees, the grasses, and the sky. I am grateful every day.

For May, for you, a poem for spring by Mary Oliver.

North Country

In the north country now it is spring and there

Is a certain celebration. The thrush has come home…

It is okay to know only

One song if it is this one. Hear it

Rise and fall; the very elements of your soul

Shiver nicely. What would spring be

Without it? Mostly frogs. But don’t worry, he

Arrives, year after year, humble and obedient

And gorgeous. You listen and you know

You could live a better life than you do, be

Softer, kinder. And maybe this year you will

Be able to do it. Hear how his voice rises and falls. There is no way to be

Sufficiently grateful for the gifts we are given, no way to speak the Lord’s name

Often enough, though we do try, and

Especially now, as the dappled breast

Breathes in the pines and heaven’s windows in the north country, now spring has come,

Are opened wide.

Painting Spring

Singing