The Spiral Keeps
Before an oleander ever opens, it spins. Inside the bud, each petal is tucked over the next like the blades of a pinwheel, a pattern botanists call contorted. It keeps the flower folded tight and safe until it's ready, and here, the rain left a single drop balanced right at the tip.
Don't let the softness fool you. Every part of oleander is fiercely toxic, and it's tough enough to bloom through heat, drought, poor soil, and salt. Beautiful, dangerous, and patient, all in one twist.
This moment of noticing was another one of those days where as the rain finished, it called my spirit outside. The worlds kept inside drops of rain captivate me every time. This one reminds me of blowing a bubble. Playful, elegant, captivating.
What we protect begins with what we notice. My noticing leads to The Wild Land Project.
About This Image
Common name: Oleander
Scientific name: Nerium oleander
Location: Northern Belize
Collection: After the Rain
