Bringing spring home

Spring in the riverine region doesn't arrive along straight roads, but rather meanders through small canals, accompanied by the sound of water lapping against the sides of boats, the scent of fresh mud, and the fragrance of flowers whispering in bloom.

Sometimes, spring arrives very early, from the moment farmers begin pruning, trimming branches, and carrying potted flowers down to their boats, quietly "bringing" the season home from the last days of the year when the sun still lingers.

Looking at the man standing on the small boat, amidst a vast field of chrysanthemums and marigolds, one suddenly understands: spring is not just a moment, but a journey. That journey begins with calloused hands, with mornings still shrouded in mist, with sighs when the weather turns erratic, causing flowers to bloom too early or too late. For them, welcoming spring isn't about decorating the house, but about keeping each potted flower intact, fresh, and ready to display its beauty on the right day.

Caring for the spring buds. Photo: Tran The Phong

Spring in the Mekong Delta has a very unique scent. The smell of the green canal water with floating water lilies, the smell of earth mixed with fertilizer, the scent of young leaves just sprouting. In that space, the colors of the flowers are not boisterous, but gentle, enough to warm an entire stretch of the river. Pots of flowers neatly arranged on the boats are like unspoken wishes: wishes for peace, wishes for abundance, wishes for a year without too much turmoil.

Perhaps that's why Tet flowers in the riverine region carry more than just beauty. They carry the slow, enduring rhythm of life of the flower growers. Each Tet season is a gamble with the weather, the market, and unpredictable changes. But year after year, the flowers are still brought ashore, spring is still sent to the land, like a faithful promise between people and the land.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the year-end, this image reminds us that spring is not just about lavish feasts or joyful family gatherings. Spring is also about cherishing the little things, about keeping a flower pot from breaking branches, about preserving the vibrant green color. Welcoming spring sometimes simply means allowing ourselves to slow down, to look more deeply at what is silently growing around us.

When those potted flowers arrive at the docks and are transported to the city, the flower growers return to their familiar canals. Spring has passed, but its echoes linger in their hearts – another season has come to an end, another promise has been kept. As for the flower buyers, they may not know the whole story behind it, but when they place the potted flowers on their porches, spring truly arrives.

Bringing spring home, ultimately, isn't about bringing spring from somewhere far away. Spring is already present in this life, in the people who quietly beautify it. If we are calm enough to recognize it, and compassionate enough to cherish it, then spring will stay for a long time, not just during the three days of Tet, but throughout the entire year of peace and well-being.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/ruoc-xuan-ve.html