FLORIDA VEGETATION

Next door to Coral Cottage is Mary's lawn,

rife with 'weeds' some say.

I see these plants as natives,

tiny jewels every one,

miniature masterpieces of survival that thrive and bloom precisely in hard, sandy, dry soil.

X

Bougainvillea from the neighbor on the other side of Coral Cottage drapes itself over the fence to grace the back of the side yard,

while this palm adorns the front of the side yard,

A trip to the nursery yielded some good soil, and a variety of colorful landscape additions for the cottage: 

Bougainvillea vines will drape over, and cover a chain link fence that spans the back yard

with spreading Lantana planted in between.

Rosemary, and Lavender will be placed close to the house, just under the windowed wall of the 'Florida' room which serves as studio for "Art Camp" so that, in fair weather, their intoxicating mingled scents can drift inside.

Also, Several Oleander were purchased locally.
The whole garden readied for planting when days warm a bit.

X

A third trip to Merritt Island on a late Fall like day, fortified with a fine picnic my dear friend (Kind Lady of Coral Cottage) prepared for us, took us to a place Mary knew where a well placed bench served as table, and after which I followed her strong, long strides along board walked trails,

through

tall stands of palm draped in moss that needs only air to breath and something to cling to,

over twisted vines and roots,

.

to cross back over this central rail line

used for service trains,

to the exit, hop into the car, and head back

just as the sun was setting.

On arrival, we were treated to one more vision.

Stay Tuned
for one last post to come, with bits and pieces, and some thrift shop finds

SUNNY DAY-RAINY NIGHT-SUNNY DAY

 
Saturday, the last day of Summer:

An Afternoon Stroll
(three legged still)
to Madison Square Park

observed color contrasts,

tones, textures, and seeds

some natives that remain
"What truly belongs will return."

A Public Sculpture Installation

Rocks in skeletal trees traveled all the way from Italy,
weighed tons, and cost a whole lot to install

(A bleak vision)

Accompanied By Wind
Voices from leaves of real trees,

chattering children, gregarious grownups,
and a great little band playing

alternative link
http://youtu.be/P6_TckTvSQs

Then southward, down Broadway to the
14th Street Farm Market

There, where I bought so many plants over the years, where nostalgia spreads within me like a spore

I Found Wonderful Wild Mushrooms

gobs of kale to eat and share

onions, and yellow tomatoes

and, these grapes from the Catskill Mountains,
tiny, seedless, and not too sweet,
whose taste sparks a memory:

A Cottage At Cairo, N.Y.
(from a photograph)

A four years old girl in pinafore,
smelling of dirt and strawberries,
leans reluctantly into her Nana's body.

She frowns, or so it would seem.
Perhaps the sun was in her eyes then,
that scowl merely the result of squinting.

The Grandmother looks off in to the distance,
encircling the child, holding perhaps too tightly?
Who knows?  One can not return to ask. 

Fall Begins For The Northern Hemisphere

It rained through the night to this sunny, crisp Sunday.  I slept soon after young , drunk neighbors wore their emotions out with a brief, loud, door slamming, wall stomping, domestic squabble.


My Mind Drifts Back To Massachusetts

A Buddha by my bed there

 This vine making a pumpkin

Feeding bees harvesting

and, reading an old favorite

below is a link to the Libravox recording.
It will shift you toYou tube.

"The Country of The Pointed Firs"

by Sarah Orne Jewett
First published in 1896

(alternate video link)
http://youtu.be/zG5dbVEHFh4

Note
I am grateful for the audible words, for the effort of these readers volunteer labors.  Libravox is a public service site for recorded literature.  Any one can volunteer to read and record a favorite book at
www://libravox.org