(For politics, please scroll down)
Our hostas bloomed heavily this year. I've never seen them this lush! All that snow and ice during the winter — and a rainy spring — brought us this beauty:
Four more photos below the fold.
I took the above photos on July 5, 2015, when our hostas were at their peak. Now they are waning.
Beauty like this helps preserve sanity and restore the soul.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the loveliness.
Apparently not many are interested in loveliness these days.
DeleteAll the more reason to exhibit and exemplify it at every available opportunity.
DeleteSo lovely. And so exotic to us here in my neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteVery Nice AOW !
ReplyDeleteI clipped these pix, AOW, and sent them to several friends. ALL reported they were 'jus beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOne even said she thought they looked like DELPHINIUMS.
We were never able to grow delphiniums, could you?
FT,
DeleteGlad the you shared these pictures with others.
As far as I know, my family never attempted to grow delphiniums. This may be the reason:
All members of the Delphinium genus are toxic to humans and livestock.
______ The Dormouse and the Doctor ______
ReplyDeleteThere once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)
And all the day long he'd a wonderful view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)
A Doctor came hurrying round, and he said:
"Tut-tut, I am sorry to find you in bed.
Just say 'Ninety-nine', while I look at your chest...
Don't you find that chrysanthemums answer the best?"
The Dormouse looked round at the view and replied
(When he'd said "Ninety-nine") that he'd tried and he'd tried,
And much the most answering things that he knew
Were geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).
The Doctor stood frowning and shaking his head,
And he took up his shiny silk hat as he said:
"What the patient requires is a change," and he went
To see some chrysanthemum people in Kent.
The Dormouse lay there, and he gazed at the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue),
And he knew there was nothing he wanted instead
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).
The Doctor came back and, to show what he meant,
He had brought some chrysanthemum cuttings from Kent.
"Now these," he remarked, "give a much better view
Than geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)."
They took out their spades and they dug up the bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And they planted chrysanthemums (yellow and white).
"And now," said the Doctor, "we'll soon have you right."
The Dormouse looked out, and he said with a sigh:
"I suppose all these people know better than I.
It was silly, perhaps, but I did like the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)."
The Doctor came round and examined his chest,
And ordered him Nourishment, Tonics, and Rest.
"How very effective," he said, as he shook
The thermometer, "all these chrysanthemums look!"
The Dormouse turned over to shut out the sight
Of the endless chrysanthemums (yellow and white).
"How lovely," he thought, "to be back in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)."
The Doctor said, "Tut! It's another attack!"
And ordered him Milk and Massage-of-the-back,
And Freedom-from-worry and Drives-in-a-car,
And murmured, "How sweet your chrysanthemums are!"
The Dormouse lay there with his paws to his eyes,
And imagined himself such a pleasant surprise:
"I'll pretend the chrysanthemums turn to a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)!"
The Doctor next morning was rubbing his hands,
And saying, "There's nobody quite understands
These cases as I do! The cure has begun!
How fresh the chrysanthemums look in the sun!"
The Dormouse lay happy, his eyes were so tight
He could see no chrysanthemums, yellow or white.
And all that he felt at the back of his head
Were delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).
And that is the reason (Aunt Emily said)
If a Dormouse gets in a chrysanthemum bed,
You will find (so Aunt Emily says) that he lies
Fast asleep on his front with his paws to his eyes.
~ A.A. Milne (from When We Were Very Young)
Even though it's clearly intended to be read to young children, there's a wise message for adults in that poem, if you care to look for it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if anyone here sees what the good advice might be?
It could even be interpreted to have political significance.
FT,
DeleteI wonder if anyone here sees what the good advice might be?
They might -- if anyone is bothering to read this thread. Most have likely moved on to other threads by now. The political threads, of course.