May the Fourth Be With You

In the backyard this morning

Thanks to one of my friends for sharing the meme of the day with me.

May the Fourth Be With You

And may every other day be with you as well.

This morning I was greeted by a raft of wood ducks and mallards swimming in the pond and waddling on the lawn. There were also two pairs of cardinals on the lawn searching for good things to eat. One of the male cardinals flew up into the river birch tree and posed long enough for me to photograph it from the living room window.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Visit Today

We got to drive through the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum this morning. Our reservation to drive through was from 9:00 – 10:00 am. When we arrived at 9:00 there was a line of cars stretching almost all the way from the gate to the highway. I brought my camera with Canon 100-400 mm lens and 1.4 extender along but because of the convoy of cars ahead and behind us, it was difficult to stop long enough to get many good photos.

Most of the crab apples are not yet in bloom but a few here and there are in bloom. The red bud flowers are getting ready to pop open any day now. Magnolia trees are in full bloom and some past peak bloom. A few daffodils remain in bloom but many are done blooming. The tulips are not yet fully open but they paint a colorful palette on the landscape.

It was wonderful to see spring happening at one of my favorite places. And it was hard to not be able to get out and wander through the beautiful trees and flowers. It looks like most of the people who work there have been furloughed as the winter deer fences were still in place, and cross country ski signs still present. Today there were a few workers beginning to take down the deer fences. I imagine that as time goes by more and more of the workers will need to return to work to weed and take care of the landscape.

A Summer Poem for You

Today I’m sharing a poem written by my friend Nora Page (with her permission).

Whistle Down

 

Under my mother’s wing
I whistle the day down.
It is night
and the lilies are abloom
beneath the dark and purpled waters. Quiet is palpable

and chance is everywhere.

 

Over in the band shell
children are playing their violins. A lone cello slips in
like a sly fox or a gypsy.

 

In this hushed slice
of a summer evening
the birds are blooming like peonies. I am so filled with wonder
I have forgotten my own name.

   — Nora Page