Alone on the Water

Alone on the water, or so it seems.

Yet the air is filled with birdsong

And under the surface darting fish.

In between, cormorant, blue heron, turtle, and me;

Black-crowned night heron, little green heron,

A pair of ducks - mallards I think- and me;

Surrounded by life, if only I look.

Spring Beauty

Spring is such a busy time. Planting, tending, watching, breathing...every day new, air perfumed with honeysuckle. Of course, getting the garden started has taken time and energy. Finally almost everything has been planted. We've enjoyed the strawberries, early salad greens and asparagus. Peas are blooming and will be productive soon. Tomatoes, green beans, okra, squashes and peppers are growing. The maintenance phase is beginning now.
From April, 2010

 April Awaking

Wake to sweet bird song

Bathed in honeysuckled air

Deer quietly grazing.

Bill and I took the kayaks out on Melton Hill for the first time last week. I didn't get catch any fish (not even any bites). However, the experience was a wonderful workout for body and soul. I being close the the water and bank for views that I just don't see any other way. I've shared some of my favorite pics below from the lake and from the garden.

Mother on Melton Hill

Solomon Seal

Tupil Poplar

Wild Columbine on rock outcrop

Yellow Flags in the pond

Tomatoes are growing

Early salad greens

Easter Garden Meditation

Last week I was preparing my garden beds for planting:

Broken and open

Ready to receive and give

Bountiful blessings.

This week I am setting out vegetable and herb plants purchased from the Lenoir City High School Greenhouse.

Tomatoes: 4 Roma, 2 Grape, 2 Better Boy (may add 2 Brandywine)

Peppers: 3 Green Bell, 2 Yellow Bell, 2 Red Bell, 2 Jalapena and 2 Cayenne

Herbs: 4 Sweet Basil, 4 Lemon Basil, 4 Dill

Other: 8 Cucumber, 4 Yellow Squash, 4 Zucchini, 4 Eggplant

Next week, with Bill's help, I'll put in seed rows of bush green beans, pole green beans and okra.

Spring peas are about 1 foot high and broccoli is growing nicely. We are eating romaine and red leaf lettuce, spinach, swiss chard and asparagus. Strawberries are developing very early, blueberry bushes are full of berries and blooms. Blackberries did not survive last summer's drought very well, but 2 remaining bushes are full of blooms, as are the rasberries. Perennial herbs are flourishing: rosemary, oregano (common and greek), chives (common and garlic), mint, lemon balm, sage, thyme (common and lemon), parsley and fennel. Shall I had some new ones this year?

My garden brings me blessings me in so many ways.

Mississippi Delta Images

Flat Delta Blues Land

Cypress Swamp and Cotton Fields

Mississippi Home

Delta Morning, Sunflower County

Corner Grocery, Sunflower, MS

Main Street, Sunflower, MS

Cypress Lake, Hwy 49

Ground Zero Blues Club, Clarksdale, MS

Ground Zero Blues Club Mural

Ground Zero Blues Club

Spring Calves

Spring calves: spindly legs,

Shiny black coats, twitchy tails.

Placid cows chewing cud.

Garden Dirt

Dirt under my nails.

Purity and (w)holiness

of highest order.

First Planting

Gardening brings me

To my knees in prayer, praise,

Thanksgiving and pain.

 

March 3 was a fair spring day in East Tennessee after Friday's storms. I had the opportunity to plant spinach, broccoli, romaine and leaf lettuce. I also cleared beds that should have been cleared in the fall.

Gardens don't always

Keep promises made in spring,

But I keep hoping.

Anticipating Asparagus

Left-overs