secret notebooks • wild pages: Wildflowers of the Woods

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Wildflowers of the Woods

It's early spring in the Berkshire foothills, and if you keep your eyes on the ground as you walk through the woods, you'll find little dots of color as you go. Now if only I could find some ramps...

15 comments:

valct4joy said...: These tiny little flowers are absolutely exquisite and such a contrast to the winter pictures you've been posting. I'm sure their beauty must lift your spirits with their promise of the warmth of spring and summer.; April 17, 2010 7:03 AM
Karen L R said...: such little lovelies!

and thanks for the paint suggestion. i am off this morning, to find a swatch!; April 17, 2010 7:20 AM
sukipoet said...: sweet little gals; April 17, 2010 7:40 AM
Mel said...: Lovely wildflowers! I've been photographing mine too, and am amazed how early the trilliums and jack in the pulpits are up. I lived in Morgantown WVA for a while and oh, ramp season!! I miss them. Hope you find a hillside of them.; April 17, 2010 10:22 AM
Katherine said...: Such delicate beauties!; April 17, 2010 11:33 AM
Gigi said...: Hooray for these little gems! I'm finding similar treasures here in Eastern MA, too. Your photos are so beautiful. They lift my spirits on this grey, drizzly day.; April 17, 2010 12:29 PM
Marie said...: Beautiful, Miss m. I love these pictures of yours... Erythronium/trout lily are hard to photograph, I think, having squatted for ages in the BBG last week trying the same. Your photograph captures its grace perfectly.; April 17, 2010 1:01 PM
Suz said...: Oh I love the bug on the lily!

What a wonderful walk you had!; April 17, 2010 1:46 PM
ELK said...: these are so pretty...you frame them so well against sky and ground; April 17, 2010 1:48 PM
m. heart said...: I agree with you Marie, they are the hardest to photograph. You want to get those speckled leaves, but then the flower isn't pointing the right way. Parts of it seem to disappear from the photo whichever angle one chooses...; April 17, 2010 3:38 PM
Teri and the cats of Furrydance said...: My violets are blooming too and my moss growing between the stone steps...love spring!; April 17, 2010 4:20 PM
Holly Renee said...: I love the purple one at top. One of my absolute favorites. You have a gift!; April 17, 2010 6:21 PM
JC said...: Beautiful flowers! The first one kinda looks like an orchid.; April 18, 2010 8:14 PM
Annotated Margins said...: I've heard it said that one should walk always looking up. I disagree. I like to look down at all the cool stuff. (Took a walk through the forest yesterday, and got to see the last of the trillium... oh yes.); April 19, 2010 12:44 PM
Oliag said...: Even though you are not always at peace, I get such a feeling of peace reading your posts...just took two days to catch up with you!...I finally finished parts three thru six!:)

Thank you for your concern...I'm safe and sound and just being lazy now...

Your photos of New England wildflowers are a breath of fresh air...I must look closer when I go out to walk tomorrow:); April 19, 2010 6:27 PM

Meditation on Affliction

Assailed by afflictions, we discover dharma and find the way to liberation. Thank you, evil forces!

When sorrows invade the mind, we discover dharma and find lasting happiness. Thank you, sorrows!

Through harm caused by spirits we discover dharma and find fearlessness. Thank you, ghosts and demons!

Through people's hate we discover dharma and find benefits and happiness. Thank you, those who hate us!

Through cruel adversity, we discover dharma and find the unchanging way. Thank you, adversity!

Through being impelled to by others, we discover dharma and find the essential meaning. Thank you, all who drive us on!

We dedicate our merit to you all, to repay your kindness.

— Gyalwa Longchenpa

Who Says Words With My Mouth?

All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.

This drunkenness began in some other tavern.
When I get back around to that place,
I'll be completely sober. Meanwhile,
I'm like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.
The day is coming when I fly off,
but who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?
Who says words with my mouth?

Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?
I cannot stop asking.
If I could taste one sip of an answer,
I could break out of this prison for drunks.
I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way.
Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.

This poetry, I never know what I'm going to say.
I don't plan it.
When I'm outside the saying of it,
I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.

— Rumi

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Mary Oliver

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Wildflowers of the Woods

15 comments:

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