Ferida Wolff's Backyard: Nature's Progression and A Robin's Beautiful Eggs

Nature’s Progression

We are greeted by the most amazing azalea bushes in our front yard. Big puffs of pink remind us of the beauty of Spring. I stop before getting into my car to gently touch the buds and thank the bushes for their greeting.

But the warmer weather is not just about the brilliance of a flowering bush. Before the flowers burst open and awe us, there is the hint of what is coming. Buds slowly appear on bare stalks, anticipating what is waiting to expand into fullness. Then they unfold, expressing their rapturous enthusiasm for being in the world. The energy of the flowers in full bloom interacts with our energy as we appreciate Nature’s offerings. And after the flowers have spent their allotted time with us, they fade and lose their colorful petals, the bush, now green, reminding us that it is still with us and now mature.

It is Nature’s reminder, I think, of the wholeness of being. Not unlike our human progression from conception through infancy, adulthood and our last years here. Our energy remains even when our petals fade. Nature is always offering us a broader picture of life.

Author's Note: As our communities become more urbanized, the natural features around us tend to get pushed into the background and often go unnoticed. In “Ferida’s Backyard,” I look at the details of nature locally, from a neighborhood perspective, frequently from a backyard vantage point. It excites me to share what I see. An awareness of the natural connection can beautifully enhance our lives.

Editor's Note: We're at a moment when Harper Lee's book has received a new rush of enthusiasm through its current Broadway play version. Consequently, we thought we'd look up one explanation of the azaleas's symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird:

What do Miss Maudie's azaleas symbolize in To Kill a Mockingbird?

To Kill A Mockingbird contains many symbols, starting with the title. In the fight for justice, innocence is lost. It is "a sin to kill a mockingbird," because in singing "their hearts out for us," they have no malice or personal agendas—much like Tom Robinson in feeling sorry for Mayella Ewell and trying to ease her apparent suffering.

Flowers are a recurring symbol in the book and as Atticus refuses to judge anyone in his community of Maycomb County and looks for the good (the beauty) in everyone, flowers are a reminder of that. People are rude and offensive and their behavior is often disgraceful and yet, Atticus instructs his children to accept and respect the views of others, even when those thoughts are intrinsically flawed and even wicked. Flowers provide the stark contrast between his attitude and that of most of his community. Furthermore, Mayella's harsh life conflicts with a show of color, even though her geramiums are grown in "chipped-enamel" jars.

In terms of Miss Maudie, she does not want to be stereotyped or stay indoors, because that would be "time wasted," even if the Maycomb community expects her to. Her azaleas provide the contrast between her friendly disposition and the bitterness and hypocrisy in Maycomb County. Her azaleas need nurturing, and are also a symbol of her efforts to nurture not only her azaleas, protecting them from the snow, but also the children, who are free to spend time with her as long as they do not spoil her azaleas. She also likes the bright colors; she does not discriminate one color over another — a subtle reference to the racial prejudice by which she is surrounded.

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