Have you ever noticed how many different shades of green appear in spring and early summer? As I enjoyed various landscapes while driving from British Columbia back to Ontario last month, it struck me just what a wonderfully diverse colour green can be.

According to Wikipedia, there are 70 shades of green. Some of my favourites, which truly capture the essence of some of the new spring growth I enjoyed include: Forest green, Asparagus, India green, Chartreuse, Apple green, Emerald and Lincoln green.

Actually I thought there may have been more shades of green based on the variety of new plants coming back to life after such a long winter. Besides the plethora of shades of green, I also noticed the different stages of growth and this got my attention.

Spring and early summer is a time of hope, renewal and new beginnings. But everything does not pop up at the same time. Each living thing has its own unique process for growing in its own way and in its own time. Just as there are 70 shades of green, there are countless stages of growth and development.

I found myself wondering about what ideas and activities I would notice naturally emerging within me this spring, and what new thought processes could be nurtured to grow, in their own time.

So what do you think … are there just as many shades of growth as there are shades of green? And what new (green) ideas and activities will you nurture during this years’ season of growth?