And so the date we’ve all been waiting for has arrived. The Spring Equinox.
For those of us who hanker after such symbolisms, the spring or vernal equinox – this year falling at 9.37am on Saturday 20 March – is a wonderfully hopeful moment. It is the day when spring has actually arrived. We can stop saying ‘spring is springing’ or even ‘spring has sprung’ and fling all the winter into spring feelings away and just say sincerely that spring is finally here. It is a thing. Astronomically confirmed.
The word equinox stems from the Latin words aequus (equal) and nox (night), alluding to the fact that today the light and the dark have shared billing (well they are as close to equal as you can get here on Earth). The day is as long as the night.
For those of us in the Northern hemisphere, the sun has crossed the celestial equator (an imaginary line in the sky above the earth’s equator’ and is heading north. Today the sun rises due East and sets due West. From now until the summer solstice on 21 June, the Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the sun and we will get progressively longer days then nights.
To celebrate the equinox I met up with my dear friend Jen. We only had a few hours as I had to be back for the kids (otherwise I’d be gone for the day!) but it was the perfect day to introduce the wonders of Wanstead Park to her. Not quite as far as Epping Forest but part of it no less. The best bit of woodland wilderness on my doorstep.
I’m always a bit nervy on Saturday morning as I’ve spoken about before and today was no different. Thankfully this is often the dynamic when I’m with Jen – a tall/small thing, perhaps – so she tried out her new camera while I reeled off the names of various plants and natural forms like the geek I am. Or rather, that’s how I seem to bring myself calm these days especially after a week that involved heavy-handed bailiffs on my doorstep and a man in our garden two nights in a row.
Anyway, I digress and acts of intimidation will get no air time in this, my homage to actual spring. The unbelievably fresh green unfurling leaves of a young horse chestnut tree is what today is all about. Woodpeckers in the trees, seen and heard. The budding tips of a cypress pine, looking good enough to eat (i’m going to bottle some of these tips from the Corsican pine next door to make some air freshener for our new kitchen). The clear, babbling waters of the River Roding and the still reflections of the ornamental ponds. Ducks finding partners and swans making a big deal about their mate already on the nest. The blossom of random cherry trees and rose guelders. The nostalgic pull of pussy willow and alder catkins. The first blooms of the cow parsley and pockets of yellow celandines and dog violets underfoot.
So much hope and potential and growth. So much sweetness and strength.
It wasn’t sunny today but we did celebrate the sun. We also celebrated friendship, of the kind that is always here to stay. Its ups and downs, its chats and its quiet moments, its shared love of nature and of the heavens and the arts. Me rambling on. Jen being cool. Space to be brilliant and vulnerable all at the same time. A day of equal parts.