071319

can't see the garden
for the Jerusalem artichoke hedge
soon it blooms

070819

too little rain
to entice the rain lilies
from their beds

061319

Strangely, we have 4 different kinds of yellow lilies, and sunflowers, all blooming at the same time. Also dianthus, bee balm, amaryllis, May Night (still!), spider wort, gardenia, gladeolus, hydrangea, borage, zinnia, marigold, geranium, rain lilies, gloriosa lily, other lilies that are not yellow, canna, something whose name I've forgotten, lantana,verbena, probably more I've forgotten.

102918c

where the magic fertilizers spilled
overnight the cat briars grew stout and tall
wrapping the entire house
the 8 inch thorns almost seemed sentient
jabbing towards anyone
who came too close
anything that would take down the vines
would destroy the house as well
we could hear those trapped inside
for days
eventually they fell silent
but by that time
the entire town
had been evacuated
and completely concealed
by a forest of asters
roses of sharon
and Mexican petunias
50 feet in height

092118b

in early morning's crepuscular light
the Jerusalem artichokes  glow like
10 foot sunflowers
nodding above tubers
that will wax tasty after frost
but now, afternoon, and especially morning
bright yellow flowers
stand above everything else

090118b

zinnia forest
overwhelms the basil patch
garden after trip

082918

runners across dunes
white pentaradial jewels
dot green webs

080418

This morning I had an adventure. This was the kind that in traditional Chinese culture is sometimes called "interesting times." We went out in the garden to look at the flowers. We saw white phlox, Turks hat, zinnias, two kinds of lantana's, rain lilies, spider wort, black-eyed Susan's, and more. Then I got up close and personal with some very soft soil. My wheelchair and I, together, weigh more than 550 pounds. Fortunately I was in the shade, but unfortunately that shade was in Alabama. We were almost to the point of calling the fire department to help lift me up, when some fancy work with pieces of wood got me loose.

051518c

come-hither look
bred out of garden flowers
bees:  what is that thing

041418b

Evolution in the Garden

Dianthus and sorrel
jostle for space
in the small bed
Narcissus continues its decade-long march
why can't they all just get along?
Survival of the fittest, honey,
just ask the kudzu

022218b

you cough
and sound like you are dying
spring flowers reply

112717c

neglected garden

purple and orange blossoms
spiky dewberry vines

next year

walnuts and pecans
a meter tall

112717

planting the bird seed so carefully
hoping for cardinals or chickadees
nothing but flowers and foliage
year after year

082417b

autumn blooming clematis
in 95-degree heat
showing just which shrubs it's engulfed

061117

an ekphrastic poem


describes a work of art
different from a description of nature
composed from life
but not very
if I took a photograph out my window
described my garden from it
my poem might differ not at all
from this

spider wort blossoms
shine on in crepuscular morning
till summer feels its oats

052717

Day lilies (5 kinds), some other kind of lily, 4 other kinds of lily in bud, passionflower, Menarda, 3 different roses, glads, spider wort, Hoya (inside), Niphophia (sp?), May Night, Gerbera daisy, sorrel (2 kinds), sunflowers, blackberries, yarrow, 2 kinds of gardenia, all blooming in the garden today.

the gardener
is out there now, working
incentive all around

051417b

Summer


So,
It's gonna be in the 90s tomorrow?
And I'm thinking
Summer!
Looking really hot
In a short short sundress,
Ringing the bell,
holding a bouquet of zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers,
And my caregiver says "Incoming!"
So now I'm cracked lake beds, dead fish,
Summer bent over you,
So bright you have to squint and look away,
Sweat coming out of you
Like fire ants from a hill,
The sun rising up like Dr. Strangelove's wet dream
5:45 in the morning,
And all of a sudden
You have a vision of Autumn, your former lover,
Looking like cool mornings,
Bright red leaves,
Enigmatic glances,
Starry nights and the full moon
Under a warm quilt,
And I'm all "Why did I dump Her?!"

042117

chest-high spider wort
fills the garden next door
death flower

041617b

spiderwort rises
above the mass of weeds
blue eyes open

041217c

Well, the water's rising and crazy people want to kill everybody, but spring is here. Flowers are blooming everywhere, and basil plants are growing quickly. I can hear the pesto calling!