My Abandoned Homestead: Dreams in Bloom & Snakes in the Rafters

A Springtime Journal — The messy, magical adventure of building a home

The past two weeks at the homestead have been wonderful (and terrifying). While the air carries the sweet promise of spring blossoms, the earth below has burst into a pollen storm — dusted with microscopic confetti blanketing the ground in a greenish-yellow haze that looks uncannily like the contents of a Ramen noodle seasoning packet. Thankfully, I’m not allergic.

Discovering what’s growing on my property has been one of the most exciting parts of the season so far. Ferns are unfurling at record pace, elderberry plants are springing up all over the “wildflower section” of the land, and wild wisteria is starting to bloom across the street and in town. Wisteria is my favorite flower. It grew heavily on my mom’s property when I was living in her tiny cottage. I would make music all hours of the day back then, while looking out the window at the forest of purple. Every time I see it, that’s what it reminds me of.

I have beheld dandelions and violets and buttercups springing up at the cabin, watching in awe as the bumblebees bounce gracefully from flower to flower, making the world a better place for us all. Yesterday I saw my first butterfly of the season. A swallowtail, the state insect of Virginia. So much has come to life on my land, and very soon even more will. I routinely visit the land, perusing the grounds to see what has sprouted since my last visit. While I know I need to keep some areas cut down in order to prevent unwanted drop-ins from snakes, it’s so hard to cut anything when this felt like the longest winter ever. I felt like I waited a decade for spring.