Monday, May 29, 2017

Jack-in-the-Woods

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
(also called Bog onion, Brown dragon, Indian turnip)
In winter, snow covers the shady ground down by the creek for months at a time, and the little tributary's voice is silent under its blanket of ice. The sheltering trees on the hillside above are bare and silent.

In springtime, the lovely, crumbly, dark earth is revealed in all its elemental fragrance, and the water sings a raucous ditty as it gambols downhill with its tumbling freight of winter detritus, broken twigs and and dessicated leaves.

Hallelujah, now the "jacks" are dancing there in all their stripey magnificence. Wood ducks are nesting on a pond nearby, and the forest is a towering green cathedral again. Sunlight flickers through the leaves, and choirs of grosbeaks hop from branch to branch in the overstory, singing their hearts out.

Winter was all right, and we got through it, even managed to do a little inward blooming now and then.  Spring was late, brief and rather wet, but summer has returned to the Two Hundred Acre Wood.  We can do this, verily, merrily, we can do this, oh yes,we can.

6 comments:

Pienosole said...

Yes! I'm feeling this. :-) Time to savor summer....

Barbara Rogers said...

And down here in the NC woods, we're having summer already...at least a lot of the time. Mountains tend to pull seasons in and out for months. Lovely photo, as always.

Mystic Meandering said...

So glad you are able to be out and about "dancing" (?) with the Jacks - describing the turning of the seasons to us, as only you can: the "elemental fragrance" of the dark earth... I can smell it now! :)

littlemancat said...

Your writing's as beautiful as your photos. Love the Jack! Thanks for the uplifting thoughts!
Mary

Kiki said...

Smiling here - already living in a severe heatwave (nr Paris) - and feeling your joy over spring/summer (finally!!!!) literally jumping out of the screen - I'm so glad for you!

christinalfrutiger said...

Ahh Spring! Beautiful Photo!