“Nobody sees a flower really ”“ it is so small. We haven’t time, and to see takes time ”“ like to have a friend takes time.” — Georgia O’Keeffe

Nature always has the final word. April is a hymn to nature, and to the pleasures of which we will soon be able to partake. We are shaking off the winter doldrums and re-entering the cycle of life. In the unexpected drama spring offers, surprises and wonder thread their way through the soft breeze that causes flowers to sway in the sunlight and in the gentle rain that grows our gardens.

Light, matter, energy and life are mysteries that surround us in the natural world. Nature changes. It develops. New things happen. The spring garden awakens slowly, and teaches us that life indeed goes on and that we are a part of it. The temperature spins up and down. Suddenly, the world grows noisier. The migrant birds, sweeping and whirling, appear, filling our ears with their calls. Our landscape will suddenly appear to be dyed green. Farmers begin to work their fields as the plants send down their roots.

The urge to grow is something that all life shares. The spirit of the garden yields a deeper harvest as well. Sometimes our inner garden ”“ filled with daydreams, feelings and love of gardening ”“ can be made physical.

The Saco Bay Gardening Club provides a forum for area residents to share information, activities, experience and materials related to gardening. Their mission also includes volunteer work and charitable contributions to gardening-related causes in order to beautify the community. The group meets the first Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Deering room of the Dyer Library.

Each new spring, the gardener’s past experience prepares and inspires them to start all over again. Gardeners catch a glimpse of this rare harmony in nature.

For both children and adults, the Saco Community Garden at Haley Park on King Street provides wonderful opportunities for teaching, sharing and giving. If you like planting, weeding, mulching and digging in the soil, the community garden is a great place to be. Volunteers organized this project, and they continue to make the community garden a success. Saco Community Garden’s mission is to create a garden following organic practices, provide affordable garden plots for growing healthy food and flowers, and promote a green and sustainable Saco. Seeing young children reaping the bounty of what they have sown makes for happy moments. For more information on the community garden, email sacocommunitygarden@gmail.com.

In addition to sharing in the joys of this new season, local mothers and daughters can share memories and celebrate their love in the Mother-Daughter Group. Its mission is passing on the torch of womanhood, teaching values and caring for each other. The time we spend directing our daughters about the responsibilities of womanhood will provide benefits for generations to come. A mother’s willingness to open her life to her daughters and to share her love is truly a gift.

The next meeting will be held in the board room at the Dyer Library on Thursday, April 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. For more information, email motherdaughtersaco@gmail.com.

— Zaffie Hadiaris of Saco is the host of “Zaffie,” a weekly television talk show on Channel 3 Biddeford public access. It can also be seen at biddefordmaine.org. Contact Hadiaris at zhadiaris@hotmail.com.