Flowers! Their beauty lifts the soul.

I was so surprised and delighted when Mon Tres Douce, Bon Aime Twin (I'm throwing in a leetle French for culture, although minus the accent marks I don't know how to do on this computer) sent me an amazing bouquet on the first day of Hanukah.

When I opened the door for the delivery person, I was at first struck by the almost vibratingly intense midnight blue delphiniums, set off by a huge pale blue hydrangea head of bloomlets. Then the beautiful white roses and snapdragons came into focus, along with purple iris and tiny white nameless flowers. The effect was so stunning I just stood and looked at it for a while after I got it situated on my ancient, shabby-but-antique breakfront. I cleared away some of the extra decorative items/clutter in honor of the bouquet's beauty. The vase is a dark blue glass - wow. I don't know what it is about flowers, but they have the ability to reassure me that there is wonderment in the world if you just look around, and that anyone can tap into the magic that brings joy by being open to it.

(And by the way, in case you haven't thought of it, wasn't it wonderful, generous, and thoughtful - as well as a bunch of other good things - of Twin to send me flowers? And for the non-French speakers in the crowd, Tres Douce means very sweet, and Bon Aime means much loved. Although maybe it should be Bien Aime. Oh well, culture is treacherous. Show off, and you get shown up.)

The magical effect flowers, foliage, trees, lakes, streams, etc. can have on me is why, a few weeks ago, when I felt really, really down and tearful, I decided finally to brave the woods lining Provincline Road along the back route to Mercer and Nassau Park Malls. I parked my car in a small, graveled indentation, and walked into the woods. There was a small river, or substantial stream, depending on how you look at it, and gnarled, twisted trees overhanging the water; trees so accessible even I dared scumble down a slight slope to sit in the hollow of some massive tree roots, feet dangling above the waters. Finally I began to feel some peace, some abatement of misery. That it took quite a while showed me just how unhappy I had been feeling, because usually the moment I have taken two steps into the woods, I feel uplifted.

I strolled along the water, coming finally to a small beachy plot with massive branches lying like the skeletons of prehistoric leviathans. I wove in and out, discovering to my delight clam and other shells lying open and empty, not at all what I would expect to find by a simple riverlet. I claimed some as my treasure.

Finally, after about an hour or so, I was ready to return to reality from that other-worldly place. With the shells in my pocket as talismen, I emerged back onto the busy road to finish my errands.

There are so many places to explore. I don't need the rain forest or the jungle; give me a small patch of woods, and be it ever so humble, it will contain secrets to soothe and restore my soul.

Today, however, my bouquet sits in front of me and makes me smile. I need no expeditions for a while.