May 7: Grandmother

If my grandmother were still alive, today would be her 102nd birthday. Also, she'd have been thrilled that the Kentucky Derby was on her birthday; we loved to watch the horse race together each year.

 

Your view's hidden by fog

but some mayflowers still bloom

on your birthday.

Posted with Blogsy

April 11: Mayflowers

Years later I still hear

my grandmother telling me

not to pick them.

Posted with Blogsy

March 13: Trailing Arbutus

Trailside mayflower patch,

green leaves but no buds yet--

we'll hike here next month.

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April 24: Cathance River

High water. On the banks:

tight buds of mayflowers,

single kinglet singing.

Posted with Blogsy

May 4: Mayflowers

I spent several hours tramping around the greening woods of the Ducktrap River Preserve this morning. Some first spring sightings of warblers, including a beautiful sunlit view of a singing Blackburnian amid the hemlocks, and some first wildflowers, like this Trailing Arbutus.

Commonly called mayflowers, Trailing Arbutus flowers are often tucked away under its big leathery leaves. My grandmother, who would have been 99 in a few days if she were still alive, loved these best because they always bloomed in time for her birthday. And if you get down on your hands and knees and put your face close, you can smell their subtle, sweet fragrance.

It's a bit like prayer--
head down on the forest floor
sniffing the mayflower.

Trailing Arbutus blooming on the banks of the tea-brown Ducktrap River