While a two-headed monster is creating havoc, anxiety, and pain across the land of the living, Mother Earth signals that life finds a way in the face of adversity. The captioned photo features the explosion of orange flowers from the succulent Aloe Saponaria (Soap Aloe) in my neighbor’s garden on March 3rd. The photo below is a closeup of the early blooms captured on February 22nd.

In another adjacent garden plot, the potted white azalea plant defied last year’s extreme summer temperatures that scorched its foliage. During a dry winter, my concern grew for its survival. Just three days of continuous light rainfall in early February were enough to give it new life again. What a joy! 

As spring approaches, other transformations are underway. Seven rosettes of the Aeonium Mint succulent plants, potted and rooted, have produced flowering stalks. The flowers attract the bees and other pollinators. But they come at great sacrifice for the plant as the petals of the rosette are totally consumed to fuel their growth. The photos below were both taken on March 15, 2025.

The greatest blessing this winter came from our two resident hummingbirds. The latest generation chose to build their nest in the camellia tree just about four feet outside my dining room window. This is the first time over the years. What an amazing gift!

I first noticed the nest-building activity in early February and managed to take the photo below on February 3rd. Whenever I appeared behind the glass window, she would fly at me to scare me away. Thankfully, she did not strike the glass with her beak. She amazed me with her tireless work and excellent construction.

I have no idea when she laid the eggs. On February 8th, I captured her sitting on the nest. Perhaps, the sunlight bathing her nest shielded me in a blind spot. She impressed me with her daily commitment to keeping her eggs warm. She focused on the essential. Nothing else mattered.

On March 7th, I was elated to see movement in the nest. On a few occasions, I saw her feeding their two open mouths, but she refused to let me capture the moment. By March 14th, the two nestlings crowded the tiny nest, keeping each other warm. I give thanks for the joy they bring to my world where some humans are more precious than others.

Self-sacrifice, it seems, is the nature of being for plants, birds, and humans alike. Whether natural or caused by human forces, adversity is also part of life on Planet Earth. As adversity threatens to scorch our living spaces, we must hold on to the life-giving waters of mutual support and collective action. Like the white azalea, we will survive and bloom again.