Cardinal Climber Bloom
Photography and Article by Curtis Beaird
More than parts of a plant, roots, leaf, stem and flower. Beyond its Xylem and Phloem. Even more than the ingredients of sunlight and water, soil and its nutrients, potassium and nitrogen, with a pinch of calcium thrown in for good measure, the Cardinal Climber is home to life.
With the passing of spring and the fading light of summer’s end, comes the onset of fall. Somewhere in the plant's version of genetics, there is communication. The Cardinal Climber knows. It knows it has reached that time.
Its vines are gnarled and tangled within support branches old and brittle. Leaves once available to sunlight and moisture have curled and frayed. Each, in turn, giving up their part in feeding the Cardinal Climber. The ground that the plant would, if it could call home, is dry and dusty. It’s time.
Time for what? Time to do the only thing that life knows to do, bloom. In spite of it all, even in the face of season's end, our Cardinal Climber remains true to its nature and its Creator. It puts on one more bloom. Regardless of the coming circumstance, regardless of the current circumstance, it gives life one more chance to offer up its best. Our Cardinal Climber blooms.
To read Part One, click on the following link: "What a Cardinal Climber Taught Me"
Copyright 2014, Curtis and Norma Beaird. All rights reserved.
