February favorites
My favorite thing about February are daffodils. Just as the dreariness of winter starts to get to you, the daffodils burst onto the winterscape, hopeful and bright and oblivious to the cold glumness. A promise that this winter, too, shall pass.
This February I find myself in Kenya, unconcerned with wintry matters. Instead, I’m enjoying other green and colorful things in more temperate climes. My brother gave me this excellent book, Field Guide to Common Trees and Shrubs of East Africa by Najma Dharani, and I’ve been going around the family shamba (farm) identifying and connecting with the local flora.
I’ve met large stately trees like Meru oak, mûgumo (Ficus thonningii), mûratina (Kigelia africana), mûnderendu (Teclea simplicifolia), and mûringa. Colorful flowering trees like mûû (Markhamia lutea), mûnyûkwe (Senna siamea) and jacaranda. Delicious fruit and nut trees like banana, mango, avocado, pomegranate and macadamia. I’m nurturing two baby acacia thorn trees, canna lillies, euphorbias, giant elephant ears and golden shrimp; growing herbs like lemongrass, fever few and rosemary; harvesting the local staples of maize, beans, kunde (cowpeas) and managu.
I’m appreciating the abundance of life and green things around me, and the gifts of serenity and joy that they bring. My heart (and shamba) overflows.
Where have you been finding your joy lately?
Pomegranate trees in the shamba.