Light in the Garden 光?影

花園中的光影隨季節而變化，在自然的天平上一邊是樹冠，一邊是陽光。當樹葉飄零，陽光便開始溫柔地傾瀉；而陽光日趨強烈之時，樹冠就日漸繁華。

By Helen Yoest ∷凝墨 選注

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Fall

As I mourn the loss of daylight hours, I relish the gain in light with each leaf that falls.1 Autumn begins my survival for winter; without the leaves decent, I would be frightened by the lack of luster that only bright light can bring.2

Each time I step outside, more light appears. It’s slow, but apparent. Light seems to change just when I need it to. It’s as if nature is adjusting a balance— tree canopies3 sit on the left pan of the scale, light sits on the right. Brightness is balanced as the trees’ leaves fall. If the hours in the day are to lessen, then the leaves must move to bring in brightness.

There’s comfort under the canopy of trees. Shielded from the light, cooled by shade, and relaxed by the regulated radiance, trees’ leaves give me contentment.4

I’m also equally content sitting on the ground under an open sky, particularly in the winter.

Even though the falling leaves of autumn are warning us of winter to come, this process is a welcome necessity to balance the light for the shorter days. When it happens, I’m reminded of how much I miss the openness of the garden.

Winter

If I can’t control the length of day, I’m happy to lend a hand in the amount of light that lands on my garden, Helen’s Haven. Deciduous5 trees have been planted so I can balance the light in my winter garden and my mood. Creating seasonal tenor with the change in flora builds a better garden through diversity,6 and a way to add seasonal interest.

Even with the shorter days, I welcome winter to view the open garden. My garden is exposed and bright, the branches of the trees are bare and open for inspection. As I look up in my winter garden, the framework of my summer’s cathedral-like canopy forms uncluttered lines of communication for confessions.7 I share all of my professions8 as I tend to my land. Winter is not my favorite season, but I built a garden that allows me to enjoy this time more than I ever thought possible.

Spring

Just when I need it the most, the scale begins to tip9. The days are growing longer and the trees begin to leaf10. The leaves tend to improve my mood. Life all around me stirs11 as the days lengthen. Fresh and bright, most trees have glowing12 green leaves in spring. This wonder has me looking up to slowly watch the sky close in. As days broaden the balance changes—the tree canopy on the left pan of the scale fills in, the light on the right balances out. It’s perfection at its best.

Summer

The cloak of summer’s canopy—with a cathedral-like quality—reveals greenery hovering down,13 allowing sunlight to lightly kiss my cheek. The leaves of the trees are welcomed in summer to manage heat, intensity14, and length of the season. Comfort is sought under the canopy of the trees.

Then the cycle begins again.

If you’ve lived in an area for a period of time, you become programed15 to the seasons. Just when you’re ready for a change, the scales begin to tip, and it’s always in your favor.

1. 我為白天的時間逐漸縮短而感到惋惜，因此對樹葉落下后傾瀉下來的那些陽光很是珍惜。mourn: 為失去……而悲哀，為……感到遺憾；relish: 玩味，欣賞。

2. 秋天開始我便為如何挨過冬天做準備了，沒有了像模像樣的樹葉，我會因一切都沒有光彩感到恐懼，唯有明亮的光線才能帶來這種光彩。decent: 像樣的，尚好的；luster: 光彩。

3. tree canopy: 樹冠。

4. radiance: 光輝，閃爍；content-ment: 滿意，滿足。

5. deciduous: （樹木）落葉的。

6. tenor: 基調；flora: 植物群。

7. 我向冬天的花園望去，夏天枝繁葉茂的如教堂般的華冠現在變成了簡潔利落的對白，坦坦蕩蕩。uncluttered: 簡潔的，利落的。

8. profession: （信念、觀點或感情的）公開表示，表白。

9. tip: 傾斜。

10. leaf: v. 開始長葉。

11. stir:（使）輕輕拂動。

12. glowing: 發出柔和光亮的。

13. greenery: 青蔥的草木；hover: 上下左右搖擺。

14. intensity: （光的）強度。

15. programmed: 循規蹈矩的，按部就班的

（來源：英語學習雜志 編輯：Julie）