Life on the Edge

More wonderful than even the visual delight of a native currant bush (Leucopogon purviflorus) in bloom is the delicate honey fragrance that hovers in the air when the wind abates and the sun’s warmth exults its nectar to exude. With a nickname of “Bear”, I take great delight in sticking my head straight into this bush and filling my nostrils with deep intakes of scented air. Nothing better. But I’m confused, as a lot of other animals and insects are, because the photo taken today should not have happened for another four months or until October/November. All around Windgrove more than half the currant bushes are blooming far out of season; and with masses of flowers. Sure, it is a pretty sight. But there are no bees or other insects flying in and out of these bushes. Winter has just started (June here being the equivalent of December in the northern hemisphere) and there is no one available to crawl into the tiny one eight inch flower to retrieve the pollen off the anther and spread it to the plant’s ovaries. A silent blossoming. Perhaps the wind will blow things around a bit enabling the fruit, a small, edible waxy white drupe, to emerge. But when? In the middle of winter, before its time? Will it ripen? Will the birds who normally eat the fruit in summer, be around? Or, have they migrated north for the winter? And, what will they eat upon their return if there is no more fruit? So what is this telling us? That global warming is creating havoc? That there are consequences when complex interconnected natural cycles are disrupted? I look at this currant bush and think of those many well meaning, yet potentially unwise, parents who force feed their children with so much extra schooling and lessons that the poor kids blossom into knowledge, into adulthood, too quickly before the appropriate season. And then later in life, all confused and angry over who they are, they wither early and never bear fruit of much significance. Not having had their hearts, minds and spirits pollinated in a more natural sequence, they stay stuck in adolescence and find it difficult to ripen into wise elders. Stretching a long bow on my part? Maybe. Maybe not. Why is drug and alcohol abuse and suicide occurring within socio-economic groups of higher education and wealth? What’s failing these supposely gifted people?