Even the air was green

    

 This morning I went for an early walk in the forest.  The day was new, the sun still low on the horizon when I noticed there was a strange green glow about the forest. The color was radiating from every branch and bush and rising like steam. Even the air was green.  I could feel an energy in the woods pulsating and happy and I thought the woodland fairies were so excited they were flitting from tree to tree. I walked for a bit wondering about this strange phenomena when I realized that the new spring growth was causing this amazing color. On the ends of each little fern or moss was a tiny bud of brilliant chartreuse yellow.

The new buds on the little bushes held morning dew that magnified the green.   The moss, dripping from the branches, sparkled with new growth. The whole forest was alive with this color and I thought about my mother who used to say that God's favorite hue was green because he made so many things that color.  For all those who think that a brilliant chartreuse yellow is too garish, look to nature because it is everywhere in the spring. I am so glad that spring is finally here.

This brings me to another memory....

 One year, I was designing costumes for the Nutcracker Ballet in a local production.  The Artistic Director asked me to do dresses for a new group he called the Holly Fairies a dance that opens up the 2nd act.  Others were thinking green and red, but I decided on white silk dipped in this very color of chartreuse. I wanted the young dancers to look fresh and new with clean graceful lines. I put clear crystals on the bodice that sparkled like dew under the stage lights and let the silk flow dreamily around the girls as they danced. Another costumer, Sue Lund, did their headpieces using this color with darker greens in the holly leaves and red berries. The head pieces pulled it all together. I thought the costumes were so rich and beautiful.  Nature is a good source for inspiration.