Flower for the Day Black Eyed Susan 8-13-26

This time of year the Susans are doing well. They are flourishing everywhere despite the weather and the drought and the deer. The susans are in the aster family in the genus Rudbeckia. But how are the black and the brown eyes distinguished. Interestingly, if they have long petals they are black-eyed, if short and rounded they are brown-eyed. The difference is in the petals, not the color. Here are some black-eyed susans.  Absence Inside an Absence We live in the world of the voice, not in the world of the word, According to John the Solitary— Our lives are language, our desires are apophatic, The bush in flame is the bush in flame, Imageless heart, imageless absence between the hearts. And if we cry out, if once we utter our natural sounds, Even the angels will hide their heads Under their blue wings, its also said. So better forget that, better to forget the darkness above the tongue, Its shorting of words, its mad silence and lack of breath. Besides, there’s another spin, The flame and counter flame by which we come to stillness Playing over our faces, over the rose cane and the missing rose, Over the dreary schooners of snow Pulling their nets in across the yard, over their waters brought to joy. Still, the idea of absence aside an absence Completing a presence is dynamite, the showings foretold Unseeable through the earthly eye, We say to ourselves, The earth in our cracked hands, the earth dark syllables in our mouths. Charles Wright

Flower for the Day More Odds and Ends 8-11-26

> > Here are some interesting odds and ends showing up in or near the garden. > > There was a bumper crop of Concord grapes - a little too sour for me. >  > > This is the slowly maturing fruit of the arum plant also known as the Cuckoo Pint. The deer have left them alone. >  > > We arr strating to see new mushrooms. >  > > And this fascinating insect. Can you identify it. >  > > TEACHINGS COME > > from everywhere when > you open yourself up to them. > > That’s the trick of it, > really. > > Open yourself up to everything, > and everything opens itself up to you. > > Richard Wagamese > >

Flower for the Day More Odds and Ends 8-11-26

Here are some interesting odds and ends showing up in or near the garden. There was a bumper crop of Concord grapes - a little too sour for me.  This is the slowly maturing fruit of the arum plant also known as the Cuckoo Pint. The deer have left them alone.  We arr strating to see new mushrooms.  And this fascinating insect. Can you identify it.  TEACHINGS COME from everywhere when you open yourself up to them. That’s the trick of it, really. Open yourself up to everything, and everything opens itself up to you. Richard Wagamese

Flower for the Day Daisy, Daisy, How does your garden grow? 8-9-26

> > The front flower garden is a flurry of activity. There is a number of humming birds and bees. Can you name these butterflies? > >  >  >  >  >  > > It is great fun to stand among them and enjoy the action. > > Swallowtail > The road we walk > ends in a ring, > a quiet path > rays from it, > leads us to where > spring air is singing. > Together, > the dog and I, > we each sniff > in our own way. > Overhead the just-barely > leafing trees, > full of hopeful birds. > Down low, a tapestry > of new greens, > the tracks of small paws > in black earth, > yesterday’s rain water > in the hollows. > We move on this way, > listening, seeing, > inhaling scents, and > approach a large puddle, > see shimmering movement, > an emergence > of thirsty > Eastern Black Swallowtails. > As we near, > they light into air, > wings flash black > and blue and yellow > in the slant beams > of afternoon sun > streaming between trees. > And then they are gone. > Later, > walking home > along the same trail, > one is there, > oscillating toward us > in the air > above the path. > It flies directly > to my chest, > pauses — flutters > and does not land — > I feel its tiny wind > right there, > A whisper to the heart > A few seconds, > and I watch it rise, > spiral up > to the waving canopy > and into a patch > of blue beyond. > Michelle Berry Lane <https://medium.com/u/48e793f52896?source=post_page---user_mention--354bcf61fcae---------------------------------------> >

Flower for the Day Daisy, Daisy, How does your garden grow? 8-9-26

The front flower garden is a flurry of activity. There is a number of humming birds and bees. Can you name these butterflies?      It is great fun to stand among them and enjoy the action. Swallowtail The road we walk ends in a ring, a quiet path rays from it, leads us to where spring air is singing. Together, the dog and I, we each sniff in our own way. Overhead the just-barely leafing trees, full of hopeful birds. Down low, a tapestry of new greens, the tracks of small paws in black earth, yesterday’s rain water in the hollows. We move on this way, listening, seeing, inhaling scents, and approach a large puddle, see shimmering movement, an emergence of thirsty Eastern Black Swallowtails. As we near, they light into air, wings flash black and blue and yellow in the slant beams of afternoon sun streaming between trees. And then they are gone. Later, walking home along the same trail, one is there, oscillating toward us in the air above the path. It flies directly to my chest, pauses — flutters and does not land — I feel its tiny wind right there, A whisper to the heart A few seconds, and I watch it rise, spiral up to the waving canopy and into a patch of blue beyond. Michelle Berry Lane <https://medium.com/u/48e793f52896?source=post_page---user_mention--354bcf61fcae--------------------------------------->

Flower for the Day First Dahlia 8-7-26

> > To keep the deer from eating the dahlia we have made a tent with tall poles and covered it with deer netting. > We have our first dahlia and it is a beauty. Dahlias are in the aster family and have tuberous roots. They come in > an amazing array of colors. >  > > It lasts for about a week as a cut flower >  > > > > dreamy petals <https://allpoetry.com/poem/15129400-Dreamy-Petals-by-Writinstuffs> > > in full blosom > > proud dahlia > > ML Kiser >

Flower for the Day First Dahlia 8-7-26

To keep the deer from eating the dahlia we have made a tent with tall poles and covered it with deer netting. We have our first dahlia and it is a beauty. Dahlias are in the aster family and have tuberous roots. They come in an amazing array of colors.  It lasts for about a week as a cut flower  dreamy petals <https://allpoetry.com/poem/15129400-Dreamy-Petals-by-Writinstuffs> in full blosom proud dahlia ML Kiser

Flowers for the Day 8-6-26

> > We continue to have regular rain with some extraordinary loud thunder boomers. > This provides an unexpected and continued August flower bloom. Here are a few. > > Azalea >  > > Cosmos >  > > Coreopsis >  > > Cone Flower >  > > Monarda >  > > Verbena >  > > In the Evening > > The heads of roses begin to droop. > The bee who has been hauling his gold > all day finds a hexagon on which to rest. > > In the sky, traces of clouds, > the last few darting birds, > watercolors on the horizon. > > The white cat sits facing a wall. > The horse in the field is asleep on its feet. > > I light a candle on the wood table. > I take another sip of wine. > I pick up an onion and a knife. > > And the past and the future? > Nothing but an only child with two different masks. > > Billy Collins >

Flowers for the Day 8-6-26

We continue to have regular rain with some extraordinary loud thunder boomers. This provides unexpected and continued August flower bloom. Here are a few. Azalea  Cosmos  Coreopsis  Cone Flower  Monarda  Verbena  In the Evening The heads of roses begin to droop. The bee who has been hauling his gold all day finds a hexagon on which to rest. In the sky, traces of clouds, the last few darting birds, watercolors on the horizon. The white cat sits facing a wall. The horse in the field is asleep on its feet. I light a candle on the wood table. I take another sip of wine. I pick up an onion and a knife. And the past and the future? Nothing but an only child with two different masks. Billy Collins

Flower for the Day Zinnia 8-5-26

> > This is the year of the Zinnia (Zinnia) which is a genus of plants in the Aster family. The genus is notable for their solitary long-stemmed 12-petal flowers that come in a variety of bright colors. The name honors 18th-century German scientist Johann Gottfried Zinn. >  > > The vibrant colors add joy and zest to your life. >  > > Butterflies abound. >  > > And you can’t help but bring them inside. The cosmos demanded to be included. >  > > . > > Tough Zinnias > > Tough zinnias come up & find me. Why not you? > They are loud flowers that bear witness > > to past waterings by blooming > through drought. I’ll be thinking I must > > become something that thrives > in dry weather. Come calmly up the path. > > Be so present even eyes dimmed by bitters > can track you into the pastel asters. > > Don’t make me wait. I’ll be fidgeting > with the unrest brought on by fatal weather. > > What will become of us? I think > our attributes will be engraved inside a promise > > ring in a script too small to read. > Come quietly and be undimmed. > > When I see you, my eyes will fill > with “really?” I’ll stand there > > trying to decide if you are cool enough > to make any trace of warmth > > seem welcome or warm enough > to make any residue of cold > > negotiable. I’ll say if you’ve come > to tell me you’re going, please go. > > > > Alice Fulton > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >