Flower for the Day Peony I 4-29-24

This is my favorite peony (Paeonia) ever. It is the same peony that grew by the corner of my 

room growing up. 

I love its various stages.

It has the richest deepest red with a red striped royal gold corolla.

To Say Nothing But Thank You

 

All day I try to say nothing but thank you,

breathe the syllables in and out with every step I

take through the rooms of my house and outside into

a profusion of shaggy-headed dandelions in the garden

where the tulips' black stamens shake in their crimson cups.

 

I am saying thank you, yes, to this burgeoning spring

and to the cold wind of its changes. Gratitude comes easy

after a hot shower, when loosened muscles work,

when eyes and mind begin to clear and even unruly

hair combs into place.

 

Dialogue with the invisible can go on every minute,

and with surprising gaiety I am saying thank you as I

remember who I am, a woman learning to praise

something as small as dandelion petals floating on the

steaming surface of this bowl of vegetable soup,

my happy, savoring tongue.

Jeanne Lohman

 

 

 

Flower for the Day 4-26-24 Allium

The purple allium (Allium wallichii) have been slow to bloom this year but are now splendid.

They grow from bulbs. They produce cysteine sulphoxide which is the source of a distinctive garlic or onion taste. 

I love the little stars in the sphere which remind me  of the stars in the sedum

which blooms in the fall.

In Praise of Allium

No one celebrates the allium.

The way each purposeful stem

ends in a globe, a domed umbel,

makes people think,

'Drumsticks,' and that's that.

Besides, it's related to the onion.

Is that any reason

for disregard? The flowers – look –

are bouquets of miniature florets,

each with six elfin pointed petals

and some narrower ones my eyes

aren't sharp enough to count,

and three stamens about the size

of a long eyelash.

Every root

sends up a sheaf of sturdy

ridged stems, bounty

to fill your embrace. The bees

care for the allium, if you don't ­–

hear them now, doing their research,

humming the arias

of a honey opera, Allium it's called,

gold fur voluptuously

brushing that dreamy mauve.

Denise Levertov

Flower for the Day - First Iris 4-22-24

My first iris bloomed. I have seen them everywhere but mine are finally here.

                Irises

       more rainbow colored

          after the rain

       Basho

Flower for the Day Indian Strawberry 4-19-24

This Indian strawberry (Potentilla indica) is a miniature flooding the meadow. 

Note the even smaller viola surrounding it. It is a species of Cinquefoil.

Strawberries 

There were never strawberries
like the ones we had
that sultry afternoon
sitting on the step
of the open french window
facing each other
your knees held in mine
the blue plates in our laps
the strawberries glistening
in the hot sunlight
we dipped them in sugar
looking at each other
not hurrying the feast
for one to come
the empty plates
laid on the stone together
with the two forks crossed
and I bent towards you
sweet in that air
in my arms
abandoned like a child
from your eager mouth
the taste of strawberries
in my memory
lean back again
let me love you

let the sun beat
on our forgetfulness
one hour of all
the heat intense
and summer lightning
on the Kilpatrick hills

let the storm wash the plates

Edwin Morgan

Flower for the Day Dogwood 4-17-24

We have had early and later dogwood (Cornus florida) blossoms this year. 

They are beautiful and comforting.

 

   Dogwood Haiku

white dogwood flowers

delicate tender beauty

captured by the lens

After Ken Chawkin

Flower for the Day Dogwood 4-17-24

We have had We have had early and later dogwood (Cornus florida) blossoms this year. 

They are beautiful and comforting.

 

   Dogwood Haiku

white dogwood flowers

delicate tender beauty

captured by the lens

After Ken Chawkin

Flower for the Day Lilac 4-15-24

I spent the other day at our lake house. I was sitting on the front porch when

I became aware of a delightful smell. I knew right away that  was the lilac bush 

(Syringa vulgaris) blooming. It was first formally described by Linnaeus in 1753.

It was introduced into English gardens from Ottoman Gardens in1562 and made 

it into American colonial gardens in the 18th century. So it has been around for awhile.

What a beautiful time of the year.

    Lush scent of lilacs

    Forever by the house

    Usurps the lake view

Flower for the Day Lilac 4-15-24

Begin forwarded message:

From: Don Sessions <donsessions@aol.com>

Subject: Flower for the Day Lilac 4-15-24

Date: April 14, 2024 at 7:59:01 PM CDT

I spent the other day at our lake house. I was sitting on the front porch when

I became aware of a delightful smell. I knew right away that  was the lilac bush 

(Syringa vulgaris) blooming. It was first formally described by Linnaeus in 1753.

It was introduced into English gardens from Ottoman Gardens in1562 and made 

it into American colonial gardens in the 18th century. So it has been around for awhile.

What a beautiful time of the year.

    Lush scent of lilacs

    Forever by the house

    Usurps the lake view

Flower for the Day Spanish Bluebells and Columbine 4-12-24

This year there is a nice stand of Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) and purple columbines (Aqualegia vulgaris). 

The blue bells have been here for decades.

The columbine were brought in by the birds several years ago.

They are almost invasive but I love them.

Delicate flowers
Suspended from slender stems
Chime in pastel tones

 

Soybend

Flower for the Day Azalea 4-10-24

The azaleas are almost in full bloom across most of the front. 

They will bloom for several weeks. They are over thirty years old.

These are Herbert. They are striking up close.

       Azaleas blooming

      Bank of flowers

     Spring is here to stay

       After Dwight L. Roth