BuddingTrumpet Vine

A fence covered with greenery encouraged me to slow down and look more closely. Among the tangle of stems and leaves were the newly emerged buds of the trumpet vine. Their tight little clusters hinted at the flamboyant reds and oranges that will soon entice hummingbirds and butterflies. The big surprise for me was the way that each set of buds wore a leafy Elizabethan collar with a network of lacy veins that glowed in the morning light. It was that day’s most remarkable moment, something for which I am grateful.