Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Golden Moments


Some small bird with wonderful forethought
planted a golden sunflower among the blue
catmint.
I left it to grow there, tall and solitary.




A goldfinch watches the sun rise.




Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
~Robert Frost









24 comments:

A Wild Thing said...

I'm so glad for the many stages and varieties of sunflowers...it keeps the summer a little longer with their blooms and I'll take all I can get!!!

sharon

tina said...

I just love those thoughtful birds! So smart to know yellow and blue go well together, and a lovely poem. I am not into poetry but am loving it on the blogs.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Sharon. The birds are already starting to pick the seeds from the center. Clever of them to grow their favorite food;)
Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Tina. Truthfully, they did pick a good combination--blue and yellow. I should consult them more often. My combos aren't always that great.
Marnie

carolr said...

So pretty; love the color yellow and so bright on a goldfinch. I like your poetry selelctions.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Carolr, Frost is my favorite poet. A lot of his work is kind of rural, which appeals to me but not everyone.

Bright yellow is a standout, even from a distance a little makes a big splash.
Marnie

beckie said...

I love Frost! and I love your morning Finch. What a beautiful photo. Your sunflower is a great fnd. Nature has a way of keeping us on our toes.

100 Thoughts of Love said...

these pics are lovely!

Rose said...

One of my favorite Frost poems! You won't believe this, but I just finished a post scheduled to appear tomorrow morning on yellow flowers! We must be thinking alike today:)
Great goldfinch photo--I tried to get one for my post today, but they saw me coming and flew away.

Iowa Victory Gardener said...

Hi Marnie,
That's a lovely sunflower so kindly planted by (probably a goldfinch?) a bird. The best the birds give us around here (and not so hot) are numerous Mulberry seedlings we battle constantly and one year it was a huge purple thistle! (We learned our lesson on that after letting it go for the goldfinches!)

We're starting to see goldfinches come around, but they'll be here in droves later this summer when the coneflower seeds are dried. Had to laugh a bit ... we have two of the exact same Shepherd's Crooks that you have! lol

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Beckie. I agree, Frost's poems about nature and rural America really speak to some of us.

As I get older, I find it better to stop trying to control nature and work with her instead.
Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Pat. Nice to see you back from vacation. Thanks for your comment.
Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Good morning Rose. I've had the same experience, going to another blog and seeing what I just posted or planned to post;) No matter--we gardeners all want to see what different gardeners are doing with the same plants.
Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Iowa Victory Gardener. Mulberry seedlings are a plague here. I can't keep up with them--and thistle and locust seedlings. In one week, between mowings, they grow 2 or 3 feet. I have more mulberry seedlings than grass blades.

LOL, I love that shepherd's crook, I've had it for years. We Midwest gardeners all seem to think alike:)
Marnie

Naturegirl said...

Marnie I love poetry! I think of the words "bloom where you're planted" as I read this post.

I did not understand your comment on my blog re: racoons?? :)NG

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Nature Girl. 'Bloom where you are planted', a great thought. Make the most of whatever life gives you.
Marnie

Iowa Victory Gardener said...

Hi Marnie,
Sorry to hear you're plagued by Mulberries too! When we first moved in, the previous people had let one tree go until it was about 6' tall! We promptly sawed it down, but then were left with a big stump. I got the idea of smothering it with grass clippings all summer and leaves over winter, and about 2 yrs later, I was able to pull the whole stump out!

We're constantly battling trees here ... maples, walnuts, mulberries, and yes, locusts! A never ending job!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Good morning IVG. I have about 6 large mulberries for the birds. In addition, when they sprout up in the hedgerow or fenceline, I let them grow. That's why they are coming up everywhere. It's a nuisance but it attracts birds.

I wish my amelanchier or wild plum was as prolific as the mulberry and locust.
Marnie

Tara said...

Love finches, they are so FAST lucky you caught this cutie!

Anonymous said...

Hi Marnie! What gorgeous photos of your flowers! They inspired me to go out and do some yard work today! I may have to make a garden sign using Emerson's quote about weeds! My thoughts exactly!!! I have some beautiful goldfinches too, my favorite garden bird! Love your photo on the fence, how nice of it to pose for you! Have a great week, I'm off to weed - Jeannette

Cheryl said...

I love the sunflower....he looks so regal.....
and the beautiful goldfinch matching him perfectly.

The words at the end of your post are lovely....new to me.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Tara. I know, they are so shy when anyone looks at them or tries to get a picture. This one was concentrating on the sunrise so he didn't notice me.
Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Jeanette, I'm so happy you came to visit. I'm looking for a beautiful lamp shade like yours. I just loved the lamp.
Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Cheryl. Thank you for coming to visit my blog. I just loved you photos. I'll be back soon to catch up on what's new.
Marnie