The Sun Sets on Winter at Mirai
Consider the sun. Our energy source, our lifeforce. Ever in combustion, a constant output of electromagnetic waves vibrate into the universe. In 8 minutes and 20 seconds, these waves traveling as visible light make contact with a chloroplast in the bud of a larch at Mirai.
Imagine our planet from outer space. Its axis positioned at 90 degrees, illuminated in half, signaling the start of a new season in both hemispheres. Spring in the north, fall in the south. Today, light and dark are in perfect balance. Today is the equinox.
The deciduous buds in the garden emerge. With root systems rejuvenated from repotting, the trees anticipate the arrival of sunlight to photosynthesize. The work of winter is finished. It’s spring at Mirai.
Equinox
The word equinox derived from Latin means “equal night”. 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness balance the planet twice a year, first in March, and again in September. In the northern hemisphere, the March equinox is our indicator that spring is finally here. From this day until the summer solstice, our days will be longer than night.
This increase in daylight means more opportunity to spend time outdoors. A growing body of research continues to explore the psychosomatic benefits of a human’s immersion in nature. The results of one study stand out in particular, people who spend time in nature for a minimum of two hours a week reported higher levels of physical and mental well-being than those who do not.
We find our balance among the trees.
The sun, although mysterious to countless civilizations before us, has always been a constant. Chichen Itza in Mexico and Stonehenge in England, two ancient architectural wonders nearly a world apart, both pay tribute in their design to the sun’s position as it rises due east on the equinoxes.
Now, we look to these monuments as reminders of the timeless, universal and inherent understanding of almost all living things – the sun gives life.
Today, the sun rises due east at Mirai, and we celebrate the promises of spring in the garden: birdsong, warmth, flowering bulbs and deciduous buds. The last batch of broadleaf evergreens and junipers are being repotted while hundreds more wait to be styled and designed.
To be in tune with our gardens, we must be in tune with the seasons. Much like our own trees, we turn to the sun as our guide. The more connected we are with our trees, the more we can appreciate, understand and protect the natural environment around us. When we are in balance with nature, we are in balance with ourselves.
Photosynthesis
The garden stirs from winter rest and quiet preparation under the soil. Ardent for the longer photoperiods of tomorrow, the trees have been preparing their roots for this moment since fall.
It has been 8 minutes and 20 seconds since the lighwaves departed from the sun. Our little larch in the garden is ready for act II of its yearly growth cycle, driven by photosynthesis. Sunlight is absorbed by the chlorophyll in the emerging buds, converting water and carbon dioxide into glucose, fueling more root growth and pushing vigorous foliage. We steward this cycle of growth and nourishment, knowing that with proper care this tree will likely outlive us.
The same rays of sunlight that feed our trees also nourish us.
When our skin is exposed to sunlight, it creates a chemical reaction in our bodies that produces vitamin D, a necessary nutrient for our health and well-being.
We bask in these first moments of spring. The warmth on our faces is emotional with excitement, hope, and motivation toward new experiences. New growth.
A New Season at Mirai
After a challenging year and even more challenging winter, the team at Mirai is converting these trials into a new energy fueled by the light of our community.
With this energy, we continue to grow our commitment to bringing the highest level of bonsai education available to anyone, anywhere in the world, while creating groundbreaking trees along the way.
On this equinox, we anticipate and embrace the changes to come this season. We observe the larch and wonder, what changes are to come within us?