One recent evening I found myself out underneath our apple tree, and was fortunate to capture a photograph of this delightful little visitor to our garden. The scent of the apple blossoms was so sweet, and the snowy white blossoms so beautiful, I couldn’t help thinking of one of my favorite Hans Christian Andersen stories, The Conceited Apple Branch. I could see in that moment why the apple branch thought so highly of itself.
When I decided to share this little moment with all of you, though, Emily Dickinson’s poem seemed the perfect fit. I just love her simple, heartfelt words and the feelings of friendship, warmth and natural beauty they evoke.
It’s all I have to bring to-day,
This, and my heart beside,
This, and my heart, and all the fields,
And all the meadows wide.
Be sure you count, should I forget, —
Some one the sum could tell, —
This, and my heart, and all the bees
Which in the clover dwell.
– Emily Dickinson