never
in spite of all efforts
have i been able
to keep an orchid alive
somehow
in spite of a pot cracked
on the very first day
and
fingers crossed
trying to care for it
this tiny orchid
has survived
even thrived.
a surprise new flower emerges.
—
“patience is the art of hoping.”
-luc de clapiers
ireland, summer 2016
“bees do have a smell, you know,
and if they don’t they should,
for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.”
-ray bradbury – dandelion wine
—
summer 2018, ann arbor
what a wonderful afternoon
spent among the fields of lavender lane farm
at the lavender harvest festival
live jazz played in the field
bouquets were cut to take
soaps, and lotion, and oils purchased
a picnic
of freshly made french food
and lavender lemonade
enjoyed with friends
all while floating
on a wavy sea of purple.
–
“forgiveness is the smell that lavender gives out when you tread on it”
-mark twain
my peony tree bursts with june light.
—
“green was the silence, wet was the light
the month of June trembled like a butterfly.”
from 100 Love Sonnets by PABLO NERUDA
one of my favorite places to hike can be found right in the center of ann arbor, a place where i always return, the nichols arboretum. it’s a lovely, quiet, sweeping park where there is natural beauty to be found in any season. one of the most stunning displays is the blooming of the peony garden. unlike any i have ever seen.
the nichols arboretum peony garden is the largest public collection of historic (pre-1950) herbaceous peony cultivars in north america. the university and botanical gardens are currently in the process of rebuilding this historic garden to be an internationally significant, scientifically-documented and culturally interpreted living reference collection.
the garden, open since 1927, boasts more than 270 historic varieties of peony, cultivated in the 19th and early 20th centuries. nearly 800 plants are arranged in 27 beds at the arboretum’s peony garden, drawing flower lovers from across the region when they bloom each spring.
“flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful;
they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”
-luther burbank
—
a project of
“may: the lilacs are in bloom. forget yourself.”
― marty rubin
each spring day
we talked about the dandelions
how the seeds
when gently blown
caused new
baby fairies
to fly away and be born
whose job was to
spread more
good and happiness
throughout the world
each day
she carefully brought in
the head or seed
of a dandelion
carrying it
ever so gently
and
delivering it
into my hands
just before class
when at last
at the end of our
kindergarten year
i went to clean out
my little drawer
one tiny blossom
was left
for me
in that safe haven
waiting
to be blown to the wind
and it was
a gift to behold.
—
“beautiful as a dandelion-blossom,
golden in the green grass,
this life can be.
common as a dandelion-blossom,
beautiful in the clean grass,
not beautiful because common,
beautiful because beautiful,
noble because common,
because free.”
– edna st. vincent millay
“as full of spirit as the month of may,
and as gorgeous as the sun in midsummer.”
― william shakespeare
—
image credit: May Pole (circa 1907). source: http://www.victoriantraditions.com
and on this mother’s day,
i am reminded of when my girls were young and we had no money,
but we had each other,.
and they went to the neighbor’s garden to pick flowers for me,
as a very special mother’s day gift.
they knew i loved flowers.
and they did so fearlessly.
and they didn’t worry about getting in trouble.
and they hoped i wouldn’t be mad.
and when they told me,
i hoped the neighbors, if they saw them picking,
understood why, and wouldn’t be mad.
these flowers meant the world to me.
and they were dirty and smiling and proud to have a gift.
and i hugged them and was so happy to be their mother.
to all of the mothers and children out there,
this day is for you.
and to all of their neighbors.
if you see a child picking flowers in your garden today,
please understand and smile,
and wish them a happy mother’s day.
I didn't have my glasses on.... 