Don's Blog Yesterday 4-30-22

Yesterday was an eventful day. Congratulations to momma robin on the birth of her twins. Here she is on her nest.

Here are the twins and their unborn sib. Mom and dad are becoming much more vocal about our presence

so we are granting them their privacy.

That was just the beginning. Our son is visiting and about 4:30 we were sitting at the kitchen table with Jan. Gordon and I were eating Amighetti's specials before heading out to the Blues game. At 5:30 there was a violent shattering and the house seemed to shudder for several seconds. They thought it was a nearby explosion but I said no that it I thought it was an earthquake. And it was….

We almost never have earthquakes so it was a surprise. I reminded Gordon that it was the first earthquake we three had been in since Anchorage in 1969. This one's epicenter was in nearby Castlewood. No one was hurt but the local stories are being created even now.

After the 'quake' Gordon and I went to the Blues regular season finale at the Enterprise Center. It was my first such outing in more than two years. It is an ear shattering chaos of action (next time I will bring ear plugs). Gordon's friend Becky

got us great lower section seats located (for me) with close access to a little boy's room for my multiple obligatory visits. Only octogenarians will understand. The game is entirely different in person. It is faster than belief and super exciting. I have been a hockey fan since growing up in Chicago and following the Blackhawks. The Blues were roundly beaten (7-4) by the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The playoffs start in a few days.

To round out the day the Cardinals lost to Arizona (6-2) at the same time. 

Life is full of ups and downs.

Flower for the Day Slender Yellow Woodsorrel 4-29-22

In our meadow slender yellow woodsorrel  (Oxalis dillenii) has appeared as another miniature spring ephemeral. Its rather romantic name overlooks its tenacious action.

The leaves of this plant resemble clover leaves, with three leaflets. The flowers have five yellow petals. 

"Common Yellow Oxalis, Yellow Wood Sorrel"  

Don't even think about wishing on
my green hearts. They fold
like the wings of three butterflies,
heads in a huddle. Never four,
not like the one you think I am
when you spy me under
the redwoods' emerald umbrella.

They don't call me sour grass
for nothing. In the wood I am sorrel,
a word like a mouthful of spring;
at home I choke your tender
peas and parsley for all I'm worth.
With each drift of yellow petals
I'm building up my buttercup brigade.

Go on. Pull me. I like it so much I
shower seeds so I can do it again.
Smother me with your thickest mulch;
I will dig my way into the sunlight.
Purge is another name for propagate.
When you found me, you were right
on one count: I can change your luck.

  milesizz

Don's Blog New Nest 4-28-22

We have a wreath on a covered walkway to the back deck. Without our

knowing , a new nest appeared last week. 

This is what is in the nest.

The  color is robin's egg blue. The mother is quite shy and will not pose for a portrait.

We will await further developments.

Flower for the Day Cutleaf Toothwort 4-27-22

I love wild miniatures. Here is Cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata). I dare you to say it outloud. It is a bittercress, in the mustard family. It is also called pepper root since its tooth shaped rhizomes have a peppery taste. This is a great time of year to see them in various stages at the woodland edge.

This little perennial attracts butterflies and bees and is exceptional up close.

                                     Cutleaf toothwort blooms

 

                              Bends with the weight of new buds

                                    

                                  And a hungry bee

                                     Anonymous

Flower for the Day Columbine

Our first columbines(Aquilegia vulgarus) bloomed last week. The columbine  is an old flower - ancient Roman's considered it to be sacred to the goddess, Venus.

Perhaps you wondered what was under those skirts.

                                 Wind blows tiny seeds

                                 color spreading near and far

                                 luring bumblebees

                                   Pamela W Lucas   4-5-17

Don's Blog Blessings 4-25-22

In these times of cultural chaos it is useful to me to recognize the blessings that surround us. Here is my editorial from St. Louis Metropolitan Medicine from October, 1983.

Flower for the Day Violet 4-22-22

My meadow is filled with wild miniature violets. Here is a sweet violet (Viola odorata). Its leaves and flowers are edible but 

it would take a long time to gather enough for even a small salad.

And here is a  Striped Cream  Violet (Viola striata).

                                           coming along a mountain path, 

                                           somehow so charming – 

                                           a wild violet

                                             Basho -1685

Flower for the Day Bluebells 4-21-2

Continuing with freshly blooming wildflowers we have a large stand of bluebells (Mertensia virginica) on the edge of our meadow.

The bell shaped flowers are a beautiful sky blue. Each year my 'patch' enlarges.

Wind-caressed bluebells

ringing silent melodies

herald spring days.

                                                                               Girl with a dog and good shoes

Flower for the Day Flowering Infrastructures 4-20-22

The basic plant which surrounds the house is periwinkle (Vinca minor). It is a trailing subshrub which roots along the stems forming large clonal colonies. What I like about it is that it is soft to the touch, does not climb and it stays green all winter.

The flowers are solitary. They bloom both in the spring and the fall.

My other main ground cover is creeping phlox (Phlox divaricata), a rock garden favorite. Creeping phlox spreads rapidly and and spills over the rocks. It was introduced into cultivation by the late 1700s.

I have three different colors. This phlox is over 50 years old. It gradually covers more territory and I have not had

to add to it in more than 20 years. And it chokes out most weeds except some grasses which are easily seen.

       

Phlox, Greek for flame, crushed,
drenched and shredded by night's storm.
Sun-saved, flame re-lit.

Susan Alison

Flower for the Day Wild Blue Phlox 4-19-22

Near our lake house in Warren County is this quiet stream. It is a tributary of Charrette Creek which ultimately flows into 

the Missouri River near Mathasville.

The trail by this stream is surrounded by wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata).

It is delicate but hardy.

The flowers have five petals which are fused at the base into a thin tube.

           Purple Phlox dances

           Wind plays summer tune in trees

           Shadow closes act.

           Sara Kendrick