This morning as I was driving in through scattered showers, I noticed how the trees were starting to leaf. There were startling colors of white, russet, magenta and spring green in the forest lining the highway, punctuated with occasional white flowering cherry trees. The effect was subtle and glorious. I was thrilled to see the leaves and flowers bursting joyfully forth. Part of what I love is that the trees don’t go to all this trouble to send out beautiful flowers and leaves because they should, it’s just what they do, it’s part of their whole, what keeps them alive.