• flowers,  Plants,  quotes

    Be Yourself

    The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.

    Lao Tzu

    Rode the bus and then walked to a coffee shop. I found this yellow daisy among the smaller white flowers and needed to accept the gift of this image. A light rain fell last night. It is cloudy and cool this morning. We may see rain this evening and into tomorrow. Hoping so! May you enjoy your day and be yourself.

  • flowers,  insects,  Plants

    Pollen Laden Bee

    Pollen laden bee on Rabbitbrush

    Rubber rabbitbrush occurs in the cold deserts of the Colorado Plateau, throughout much of the Great Basin, and in warm deserts of the Southwest from lower-elevation Sonoran to subalpine zones. Rubber rabbitbrush favors sunny, open sites throughout a wide variety of habitats including open plains, valleys, drainage ways, foothills, and mountains. It is particularly common on disturbed sites. Rubber rabbitbrush is cold hardy, and tolerant of both moisture and salt stress. There are several plants along the edge of my ponds between the grass and pond. They attract a wide array of native insects, including butterflies and small bees. It is one the few native plant species in the Intermountain West that provides habitat for pollinators during the late summer and fall months. Love the bright colored yellow that makes them stand out. In general, wildlife and livestock forage only lightly on this species during the summer, but winter use can be heavy in some locations. Fall use is variable, but flowers are often used by wildlife and livestock. A few leaves and the more tender stems may also be used. Surprisingly rabbits seldom dine on them except in winter but love to hide in them.

  • flowers,  haiku,  Plants,  writing/reading

    Always Remembered

    Xerochrysum bracteatum – Strawflower

    amazing gold and yellow
    their scent brightens the mood
    remembering you

    ms

    Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my mother’s death. I found myself spending time in the afternoon at the CSU Trial Gardens which is not the norm for me. I love how we can be lead to do certain things or be in a certain place because of that whisper from deep within. These strawflowers excited me because of their amazingly gold and yellow colors. I know nothing about them so when I returned home I did some research on these lovely flowers. From the Farmers Almanac website I found that strawflowers represent someone or something that is “always remembered.” Maybe those who have died really haven’t left us but are always with us, whispering from deep within us.

  • flowers,  insects,  Plants,  quotes

    It’s interesting…

    Fern-leaf Yarrow and pollen laden bee

    The inner spirit is who I really am. My body is alive in this nature and exists in its frame. I do not need to be spiritual to find this. I only need to stop believing that the ego, the small self, is me. If I do, a different knowing emerges which has a largeness and a certain beauty. It is an expression of power and love beyond the usual definitions. To live in its knowledge is to know yourself to be free.

    from A NEW SET OF EYES by Paula D’Arcy

    This is fern-leaf yarrow, and is an upright, clump-forming yarrow that is native to the Caucasus, Iran and Afghanistan and is in the sunflower family. Interestingly one name listed for them is nosebleed. (?) It is considered an invasive species by some states in the US. And, man is still not on that list. I find these plants in almost every natural area I visit. I really like how they look and the pollinators seem to like them also, as you can see with the heavily laden bee in this image.

    I’m in a place in life where I resonate with the above quote. This process of uncovering who I really am, this knowing who I am, is exciting and freeing. Interesting that this bee does not consider what political party to belong to, what church to attend, what it’s favorite band is this week, and the other stuff we place in our lives. It lives in the knowledge of what it is and the life it is meant to live. It is free!

    It’s interesting that I have used the word interesting three times in this post. Now four. 😂

  • clouds,  flowers,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  Plants,  sunrises

    Eye of the Heart

    The sun’s morning starburst and prairie coneflowers

    I’ve come to believe if our seeing does not expand then we stunt our growth mentally and spiritually. Photography has helped me see the beauty in the world of nature’s landscapes with the eyes of a photographer. While self-reflection along with prayer and meditation have helped me see the beauty of our inner landscape with the eye of my heart. I also believe in the statement we never see more than we are willing to see. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

  • flowers,  Plants,  quotes

    Just Being There

    Joanna Macy writes that until we can grieve for our planet we cannot love it—grieving is a sign of spiritual health. But it is not enough to weep for our lost landscapes; we have to put our hands in the earth to make ourselves whole again. Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair.

    Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

    As I write this, threatening clouds have moved in. The wind has picked up and the trees are waving those arms adorned with new green leaves. I pray that it rains. I started the morning at a coffee shop, then moved on to one of the natural areas to journal and get in a walk. I’m one of those wandering souls always heading out the door, the wanderer who is committed to the adventure of seeing new places and discovering new things1 A quote the book Eternal Echoes by John O’Donohue. The wanderer cannot do that from their easy chair. I’m aware of my desire to spend more and more time in the company of nature. I find joy just being there.

  • flowers,  haiku,  Plants,  writing/reading

    Unopened Gift

    Pink tulips are making their appearance

    pointing skyward
    warm colors of new life
    unopened gift

    ms

    Found this tulip among its siblings outside the coffee shop. They were a gift that made the start to my day brighter. Then… I enjoyed my mocha.