WILDFLOWERS AT HOME ( part 4 )

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LITTLE BELLWORT – WILD OATS

Delicate little hanging flowers, they appear in mid to late May.  This photo was taken under a spruce tree near the basement drain but I don’t remember them being in this spot last year.   They may have been planted by seeds from bird droppings.

SPRING BEAUTY

This little pink flower appears in early May usually.  It comes up next to the wild leek and was a surprise as it came along with the leek we dug up and transplanted several years ago from the end of Todd Road near the East Fork of the Black River.  You can find the spring beauties by the wild leek north of the old cabin.  

WILD STRAWBERRY BLOSSOM

Strawberry blossoms are welcome in springtime.  They can be found on the dike and along the driveway.  If a late night frost injures them, the center of the flower will turn black.  If they are lucky enough to bare fruit, the berries are a delicious, tiny, red treat.  Keep a watchful eye on the areas where you see blossoms and try not to step on them!

COWSLIP or MARSH MARIGOLD

I transplanted these cowslips along the driveway from the marshy area between Les and Marla’s, out near the highway.  As a child I remember how these flowers filled up the marsh in our woods with yellow and were a very welcome sign of spring to everyone.   One of my earliest memories was one spring day when Aunt Susan came to visit her father, Grandpa Adam Moeller.  She carried me out to the marsh east of Grandpa’s cabin and we all oohed and aahed at the huge area of yellow cowslips filling up Grandpa’s marshy woods.

HORSETAILS

These little mushroom-like plants appear in early to mid-May on the dike before the grass needs mowing.  They seem to pop up overnight and don’t last too many days.  Each year they come up in the same locations and are easy to spot.  

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WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING

(For my friend, Elaine, when she lost her son to cancer)

I wish there was something that I could do

To help take away your pain and your sadness

And stop the hurt and the tears you shed

And fill your heart instead with gladness.

It seems unfair to see you feeling blue and

Walking around with your head hanging down

When I feel fine and my life is alright and

I’ve got my thumbs up and my feet on the ground.

I can give you best wishes, a hug and a prayer

Or send you flowers and a “pick me up” card

I know that won’t help much to make you feel better

There’s so little to do, that makes it so hard.

So I’ll think of you fondly and hope for the best

And know that the pain now for you is so real.

But with all my heart I wish there was something

                     I could do… just to help you to heal.