Monthly Archives: May 2014

Echinopsis 2

Posted on May 8, 2014 by | 3 comments

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Bud and bloom, flower
for a day, then sigh—
a man needs many cacti.

 

 

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RIDING FOR REMNANTS

Posted on May 7, 2014 by | 1 comment

Gods and goddesses tempt us,
pull mind and flesh to choose
between commercials

hawking sloth and greed,
or the new and improved
comforts that never last

as long as we do. Raining
cold in my face, she suggests
the woodstove waits

for coffee and company, that
old men can catch their deaths
looking up canyons for silhouettes

of cows and calves that grazed
early morning’s ridgeline.
Her running mate reminds

that I won’t rest easily by the fire
not knowing—and vows to come along
to make the wet ride fun.

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Echinopsis

Posted on May 7, 2014 by | 4 comments

IMG_2136 - Version 2

 

Cactus night bloom braves
the sun, but only one day—
for mothers in May.

 

 

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NIGHT RAIN

Posted on May 6, 2014 by | 6 comments

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Above the mountains, one
last brew rises to hold the day,
make night rain.

 

 

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PHOTOGRAPH

Posted on May 5, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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A pair in the shade
take a break—quail
on the rail of the gate—

we stop to inhale
with each prolonged
tick of time, knowing

it won’t last long enough
to photograph—to leave
for the house and good lens

to freeze gray detail
to store somewhere.
Instead, we stare

at a mirror
in our garden
we won’t forget.

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WPC – Gerbera (Spring 2)

Posted on May 4, 2014 by | 5 comments

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Surprise me with color
that prolongs spring,
just add water to the wild.

 

 

Gerbera

 

Weekly Photo Challenge

 

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WPC – Bees & Buckeye Blossoms (Spring 1)

Posted on May 3, 2014 by | 1 comment

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Measure the days of spring
in Buckeye blossoms
and the buzzing of bees.

 

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge

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Gates Left Open

Posted on May 2, 2014 by | 8 comments
March 18, 2009 - Paregien Ranch

March 18, 2009 – Paregien Ranch

 

 

Gates left open
to trails we explore,
sometimes I forget where I am.

 

 

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Elegant Clarkia—Clarkia unguiculata

Posted on May 2, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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Also known as Mountain Garland, Clarkia unguiculata is endemic to California, and in tribute to William Clark of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, one of many species that bears his name. Judging by its widespread distribution on the ranch this spring where I’ve never seen it before, I am assuming that it enjoys these dry times. Usually found on partially shaded road cuts, in soil that was disturbed years ago, it blooms on long stems 3-4′ feet high, generally in groups or colonies of a dozen plants or more. On a year where the diversity of wildflowers and the size of their blooms has been severely impacted, it’s good to see them flourishing. A wildflower that is easily overlooked until closer inspection.

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Glimpses

Posted on May 1, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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On the dark side,
colorful glimpses of spring
that we just can’t believe.

 

 

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