It's up on my desktop , pasted into a Word document, whispiering for an alchemy ... it would be September at the earliest., as we're traveling for much of August and I've written ahead and scheduled posts. OK with you if I spend some time with this one?
I hope so too… We are moving—moving home, for me—across the continent. I would love to write my reflections on the experience, but it is difficult to distill the time—between my obsessive cleaning bonanzas, and managing all the discordant emotions in a family anticipating a huge change. Nature invites such a different pace; her creativity does not seem to go in fits and starts. So beautiful.
I hope your move is as low-stress as possible. I feel your pain, Gemma. No matter how much we try to plan, I’ve always found moving to be at least moderately chaotic—which is truly understandable. The only thing I really love about it is the chance to pare down and imagine life a little simpler with fewer possessions. Good luck and go easy.
I loved your poem and the insight into the plant Ann. The flowers reminded me of our woodland orchid Creeping Ladyies Tresses (Goodyera repens). Curious, I looked up your orchid and found it too is from the genus Goodyera. And now, in looking up a link to share with you, I learn that ours may also be referred to as Rattlesnake Plantain! The resemblance perhaps in the flower spike? Thanks for nudging me to learn more.
Good to know we share these related species, Michela! I find the leaves so beautiful--even in the winter. They almost appear handpainted. Thank you for reading and for the link, as well.
So beautiful. I love discovering plant stories. They have so much wisdom to share with us. Im especially fascinated by symbiotic plants (i dont think calling them parasitic tells their whole story). Im the last few years ive discovered pine drops, bog orchids, and groundcones. So fun! This orchid reminds me of trillium which can also take several years to bloom. Thank you for your beautiful poem appreciating this quiet flowers infinite beauty.
Kayla, I have a special fondness for the symbiotic plants, too. Ghost pipes are my favorite, here--beloved by Emily Dickinson, as well! :-) I love the serendipity of finding them, sometimes in the same place, and sometimes not. Thank you so much for reading.
Fascinating! Thank you for your careful study of nature, and for imparting it to us. This is beautifully written. I love the reference to Lady Jane Grey. I read the biography of her by Faith Cook last fall. Such a tragic, yet beautiful testimony.
We still remember her all these centuries later in story and song--why not in wild orchids, right? 💛 I especially thought of Jane, since the dates of her brief July reign coincide with the time of this plant's brief blooming. The trails where I walk feel very much like a storybook forest to me. Thanks so much for the book recommendation, Marie.
Thank you for the poem and for introducing me to these forest beauties. I did some research and it seems we have, around the area where I live, a cousin of your Downy Rattlesnake Plantain: Goodyera repens, Dwarf or Lesser Rattlesnake Plantain. I will certainly try to meet them in person when I go back home, and it seems now through August is the time they send up their flower spikes!
I am now spending some time by the sea, feeling a need to slow down even as I see this moment as a chance to fill my sketchbooks. "A fallow season of rest and gathering strength" after the last rather difficult few weeks - yes!
Oh, that poem. So slight, so spare, so rich.
And then we get the gift of a gentle (and be-gentle-to-yourself) mini-meditation on fallow seasons for creatives.
Thanks, Ann.
Thank you, Janie. This feels like a season asking for strength and gentleness to be held together. I’m so glad that it speaks to you, too.
It's up on my desktop , pasted into a Word document, whispiering for an alchemy ... it would be September at the earliest., as we're traveling for much of August and I've written ahead and scheduled posts. OK with you if I spend some time with this one?
Of course, Janie. I always love to see what you gather and re-imagine. It's an honor and a joy. Good travels to you.
Beautiful flower, beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing, Ann.
Thank you, Ralph. Funny how many times we can pass by without stopping to really know a living thing.
Oh my--this deeply blessed me. Thank-you, Ann.
Gemma, so good! I hope you'll find a little creative spark this season :-)
I hope so too… We are moving—moving home, for me—across the continent. I would love to write my reflections on the experience, but it is difficult to distill the time—between my obsessive cleaning bonanzas, and managing all the discordant emotions in a family anticipating a huge change. Nature invites such a different pace; her creativity does not seem to go in fits and starts. So beautiful.
I hope your move is as low-stress as possible. I feel your pain, Gemma. No matter how much we try to plan, I’ve always found moving to be at least moderately chaotic—which is truly understandable. The only thing I really love about it is the chance to pare down and imagine life a little simpler with fewer possessions. Good luck and go easy.
Thanks, Ann! It is indeed a gift to be required to get back to basics! And it's all adventure to the children! 💖
I marvel at these blossoms daily in their season, a time when all of the other deep forest plants have finished flowering and set seed.
Thank you Ann for telling their story in prose and poetry!
Thanks for sharing, Markael!
I loved your poem and the insight into the plant Ann. The flowers reminded me of our woodland orchid Creeping Ladyies Tresses (Goodyera repens). Curious, I looked up your orchid and found it too is from the genus Goodyera. And now, in looking up a link to share with you, I learn that ours may also be referred to as Rattlesnake Plantain! The resemblance perhaps in the flower spike? Thanks for nudging me to learn more.
http://www.orchidsofbritainandeurope.co.uk/Goodyera%20repens.html
Good to know we share these related species, Michela! I find the leaves so beautiful--even in the winter. They almost appear handpainted. Thank you for reading and for the link, as well.
So beautiful. I love discovering plant stories. They have so much wisdom to share with us. Im especially fascinated by symbiotic plants (i dont think calling them parasitic tells their whole story). Im the last few years ive discovered pine drops, bog orchids, and groundcones. So fun! This orchid reminds me of trillium which can also take several years to bloom. Thank you for your beautiful poem appreciating this quiet flowers infinite beauty.
Kayla, I have a special fondness for the symbiotic plants, too. Ghost pipes are my favorite, here--beloved by Emily Dickinson, as well! :-) I love the serendipity of finding them, sometimes in the same place, and sometimes not. Thank you so much for reading.
Fascinating! Thank you for your careful study of nature, and for imparting it to us. This is beautifully written. I love the reference to Lady Jane Grey. I read the biography of her by Faith Cook last fall. Such a tragic, yet beautiful testimony.
We still remember her all these centuries later in story and song--why not in wild orchids, right? 💛 I especially thought of Jane, since the dates of her brief July reign coincide with the time of this plant's brief blooming. The trails where I walk feel very much like a storybook forest to me. Thanks so much for the book recommendation, Marie.
Gorgeous poem, Ann! ✨
Thank you so much, Maya. 🙏💛
The poem is like an orchid.
One moment of perfect beauty. And the poem about it is another.
A favorite wildflower of mine. Loved your poem too, so many beautiful sounds ... rosette amulet...petaled scepter.
Still a little rough, but I like to put it out there anyway. Like a sketchbook. I appreciate the encouragement, MK 🌿
Lovely lovely, Ann, and how beautiful to catch this in it's fleeting moment.
Captivated by this line:
"was so happy to see this fabled flower raise its scepter, and take its brief place on the forest’s ever-changing stage."
Nathan, thank you for saying so. It's great to see you back here on this great Vaudevillian platform. Tough crowd sometimes, but worth the effort! :-)
Haha yeah, I'm really trying to come back. 🤗
I love spending these micromoments with you, Ann.
Thank you for the poem and for introducing me to these forest beauties. I did some research and it seems we have, around the area where I live, a cousin of your Downy Rattlesnake Plantain: Goodyera repens, Dwarf or Lesser Rattlesnake Plantain. I will certainly try to meet them in person when I go back home, and it seems now through August is the time they send up their flower spikes!
I am now spending some time by the sea, feeling a need to slow down even as I see this moment as a chance to fill my sketchbooks. "A fallow season of rest and gathering strength" after the last rather difficult few weeks - yes!