My favorite weeks of the year begin with the first appearance of green in the trees. Usually it's the aspens, lime-green, sun-lit from behind, that catch my attention. About that time, the billberries (aka shadberries, serviceberries) appear. During this beginning, soon to be followed by cherry and apple-blossoms, each tree stands on its own, each shape outlined individually among all the others on the hillside. Eventually, all the trees will blend together in a forest of common green, but at the beginning, everything has its own color -- appearing like a muted autumn of greenish, yellowish, reddish, and burgundy. The moment is brief; the still image seems calm, but the movement through time is urgent as each species pushes toward summer and growth.
And so, it is important not to miss it. The drive to Sussex provides awesome viewing spaces.
© Betty Fleet