Tuesday, April 29, 2014

The Earth Laughs In Flowers...

Magnolia tree downtown.

Close up of Magnolia buds starting to bloom.

Magnolia flower.

Magnolia tree in full bloom

Magnolia tree blooming and casting shadows against a brick building down town.

Magnolia flower, so beautiful!


Hamatreya
Bulkeley, Hunt, Willard, Hosmer, Meriam, Flint,
Possessed the land which rendered to their toil
Hay, corn, roots, hemp, flax, apples, wool and wood.
Each of these landlords walked amidst his farm,
Saying, "'Tis mine, my children's and my name's.
How sweet the west wind sounds in my own trees!
How graceful climb those shadows on my hill!
I fancy these pure waters and the flags
Know me, as does my dog: we sympathize;
And, I affirm, my actions smack of the soil.'

Where are these men? Asleep beneath their grounds:
And strangers, fond as they, their furrows plough.
Earth laughs in flowers, to see her boastful boys
Earth-proud, proud of the earth which is not theirs;
Who steer the plough, but cannot steer their feet
Clear of the grave.
They added ridge to valley, brook to pond,
And sighed for all that bounded their domain;
'This suits me for a pasture; that's my park;
We must have clay, lime, gravel, granite-ledge,
And misty lowland, where to go for peat.
The land is well,--lies fairly to the south.
'Tis good, when you have crossed the sea and back,
To find the sitfast acres where you left them.'
Ah! the hot owner sees not Death, who adds
Him to his land, a lump of mould the more.
Hear what the Earth says:--

Earth-Song

'Mine and yours;
Mine, not yours, Earth endures;
Stars abide--
Shine down in the old sea;
Old are the shores;
But where are old men?
I who have seen much,
Such have I never seen.

'The lawyer's deed
Ran sure,
In tail,
To them, and to their heirs
Who shall succeed,
Without fail,
Forevermore.

'Here is the land,
Shaggy with wood,
With its old valley,
Mound and flood.
"But the heritors?--
Fled like the flood's foam.
The lawyer, and the laws,
And the kingdom,
Clean swept herefrom.

'They called me theirs,
Who so controlled me;
Yet every one
Wished to stay, and is gone,
How am I theirs,
If they cannot hold me,
But I hold them?'

When I heard the Earth-song,
I was no longer brave;
My avarice cooled
Like lust in the chill of the grave. 

Sunday, April 27, 2014

On Easter Sunday-

Nettles, starting to sprout up!

This tree has a nice view of the river and ocean!

Back side of Cranes Beach, from across the bay/marsh.

Small island off of Conomo Point. Only a few residents out there, mostly seasonal.

The edge of the island.

Summer "cottage" with a fantastic view of the marshes.

From the porch.

Oh, hello! Selfie in a window reflection.

This used to be a community building, not sure what it is now. Over hangs the marsh.

Houseboat winter tie up. Soon it will be out in the water.

View from under a tree.

Marsh grasses against the sky.

telephone pole on the edge of the marsh.

Willows going into bloom.

Summer cottage.

Like a magic doorway to a beautiful view.

Seed pods, waiting for spring buds.


Things were blooming and the day was bright.
Today is gloomy, but I am smiling looking back at beautiful photos!


Sunday, April 20, 2014

Made it Through

Red gerber daisy, a favor from a friends baby shower last year. It made it through the winter and is happily blooming!

I think one of the dogs knocked this poor flower off its stem. Down a daisy.

The gerber daisy has a roommate. I love geraniums! Their leaves are beautiful and I love the smell!

Budding geranium.

I am not usually one to go for red, but these geraniums were left when a roommate moved out. I love the vibrancy of the blooms though!!!


Love the brilliance of these stunning flowers!
I was so happy that the gerber daisy made it through the winter. And I adore the smell of geraniums- so fresh! These were gifts/given to me and have been sitting in the eastern facing window all winter waiting for more sun. I don't know if I have a favorite flower, I appreciate them all as the come... Well, except for petunias. I am not a fan of those sticky icky flowers! I have worked at a few greenhouses in my life and I always hated deadheading them, it always left my hands endlessly sticky. Other than that, I just love having plants around in general, flowering or not.

Do you have a favorite plant or flower?