I awakened to several inches of snow this morning and it is still coming down. In this part of the country, it will not be safe to plant outside for another month; therefore, I have immersed myself in starting many seeds indoors, with heat mats and a grow light. Every seed has its own special requirements for successful germination. Some insist on light to germinate, while others will only emerge in the dark. There are seeds that are reluctant to begin growth unless they have been soaked prior to sowing. Others require stratification, a period of cold, before they will attempt to push through their seed coat. Some are more demanding still, needing to be scarified or nicked, to create a weak spot in the coating from which the embryo can push its way through.
As mammals we can appreciate the pains that a mother and her offspring must go through, in order to give birth. Labors can be long and intense, whether only one or two babies are being brought forth, or an entire litter. Giving birth is laborious, after which comes the responsibility of protecting and nurturing the newly born. Life is challenging for all species. It is challenging for the flora, as well. Bulbs and seeds have to break open the shell of their seed in order to begin their growth. Their roots must thrust their way down through the soil, while their shoots nose their way up through it, towards the sunlight. Is it chance that allows them to germinate in just the right place, with the right conditions in the soil and the appropriate amount of water and light? If they reach the soil’s surface, only to find that they sit beneath the shadow of a large tree or at the edge of a dusty, gravel road, the will to survive persists. I often marvel at the energy and strength it requires for a plant to push through a concrete walk, or to climb a brick wall. Plants are tenacious. Birds are tenacious in building their nests. Mother bears protecting their young are a force to be reckoned with.
Life is hard regardless which kingdom, family, or taxa you belong to. It is amazing. It is beautiful to behold. Every year when springtime arrives we are reminded how precious and fragile life is. I watch my tiny seedlings growing in the window sill. I am in awe and very grateful that I have been able to provide the necessary ingredients for them to survive. Later in the season, they will provide pollen and nectar for other species, seeds for birds, and food for us. The struggle to be born and the determination to survive reside in the DNA of all life.
