The stump
wears a stubble of frost
autumn’s five o’clock shadow
Golden Thread and Meadow Ribbon
A sparkling of frost
gloriously gift wraps
the meadow.
Homemaking
seeds take
feathered flight
for monarchs’ sake.
Bunting Season
Even as decay begins to steal away their color
orange leaves wave brightly
celebrating fall until the very end.
Rock Blossom
Granite grows a rose
with lichen petals and lichen leaves.
Preparation
The forest bed is made
and awaits animal dreams
and blankets of snow
Stories
Like the grain in wood
the grain of decay in the fern frond
tells the exquisite story of its life.
Slumber
Seeds rest in husk beds
dreaming
of their spring morning.
Mum
the garden’s secret keeper.
Fringe
This tree wears its bark
like a flapper’s dress.
Ballerina Rose
Tiny dancers
take their last curtain call
before autumn closes the show
Treasure
All sorts and conditions
of acorns
constitute the chipmunks hoard.
Garden Art Show
A transitory garden mosaic
of shadow, leaves and granite veins.
Blackberry Lily
seed masquerades as fruit
seducing birds
a wily plant’s propagation plan.
Magic Carpet
There is still time.
Come sit on the soft lush green.
Let the world embrace you.
Each blade of grass grows just for you.
Panta rhei
The flower has turned to pod
the warmth of the sun belies the bite in the breeze
everything flows.
Gifts
Nature presents her complexities to the observant eye
and her mysteries to the open heart.
Coral
Geranium makes the garden’s coral
a blossom so shimmery, fresh and delicate
it might have come from the ocean floor.
Posey
A tiny bouquet of piercing red
surrounded by heart shaped leaves
offered to you by August.
Center of the Cosmos
All the mysteries of the universe
are contained
in a wild flower.
Morning Glory
The blue trumpet of summer
announces another August day.
Sunflower
The lighthouse of flowers
shinning the way to happy days
for lost or weary souls.
Communion
A blossom speaks my prayer for me.
May I share my best
and leave a legacy of loveliness.
Freckles
Splendid is the smattering
of red upon pink petals
freckle faced lily
enchanting girl of the garden
Latticework
The master gardener
grows a burgundy trellis
and decorates with dots of dew.
Buttercup
Shinning yellow
beacon of summer
buttercup is a kiss from the sun
Lady Slippers
These are the magic shoes that fairies wear
to the Pine Needle Ball each summer solstice.
The Artist
Indian Paintbrush colors the meadow
with embers of sunset.
Commonplace Alchemy
A single stem
an ordinary weed
the exquisite process of living.
Moth Magic
Fuzzy lemon drop
wings kissed by lavender
one pink leg steps forward