We’ve been blessed with lovely Asiatic lilies blooming recently. Today a white bloom showed up. We’ve never seen one before on our plants, and can’t figure where it came from. A quick search found a reference to heat affecting coloration, however all of the blooms have been exposed to the same environment.
Any botanists or horticulturists out there have an idea why we have this pure white bloom? This is the third year of blooms for these Asiatic lilies.
Rabbit sought shelter during the first rain in many days
Today, at last, we had several nice rain showers complete with lightning and peals of thunder. You can see a nice puddle in the street beyond the bunny and the sidewalk. This was the first rain we’ve had in nearly two weeks, so it’ll be back to mowing grass again soon.
Our son made this arrangement that brought beauty in from our backyard flower garden. The combination of flowering chives, mint and Asiatic lilies made for fragrance and color.
Asiatic lilies (Lilium asiatica) are considered to be one of the easiest to grow and hardy blooming plants you can enjoy in your garden. They come back each year and sometimes will actually multiply! We always enjoy our colorful lilies.
Dew drops on morning threads and an insect
A bit later Earth’s glory is on display
It’s only 40 degrees F on a sunny mid-May morning. Still there is Nature’s beauty on display.
Red young growth on the rose is due to the presence of anthocyanins. This coloration protects the bush from UV rays .
Chives flower
Asiatic lily thinking about blooming
The first rose bloom of the season
The dainty hen calmly grazes the top of the water. Her mate the drake with no abandon just dives in and feeds off the bottom. No table manners here!
Mom and Dad Geese have quite a job keeping track of the kids.
Last fall Sher and I were visiting our daughter, her husband and our 8 year old grandson who live in the Seattle area. One day I was in our daughter’s backyard taking photos of some of the leather medicine bags that I have been making.
My personal medicine bag trimmed with the colors of the 4 directions, a silver feather and a gift from the sea.
While I was arranging another leather medicine bag for photos, I heard a loud “caw-caw” from somewhere up the street. Almost immediately a large black crow landed in a small tree about 15 yards away. Crow then began to “talk” to me with varying tones and volume. I responded to him, and thanked him for sharing his space with me.
Crow and I shared space and spirit together for several minutes. Sharing time with animals is so inspiring to me, and I consider them exceptional opportunities to relish the chance to be at one with animals, Nature and Earth. I asked him if I could take an image of him. Crow did not want his image taken, and he flew off as we said our farewells.
I cut some pieces from an apple for me, and then I took the rest of the apple and put it in the tree where Crow had been perched while we conversed. It is always a nice gesture to leave a gift whenever you have contact with Nature. When I have been gifted by Nature with stones, feathers, shells or even a leaf or flower I always leave a gift in thanks for the find.
Black Onyx from Peru
A few day later we all went to a wonderful gem and mineral store in the fun town of Snohomish. I needed to get some sage for cleansing and smudging ceremonies. In this store I was immediately drawn to a display of beautiful carved crows made of black onyx that had been imported from Peru. I was strongly drawn to one and he went home with me. My past interaction with Crow reinforced that the black onyx Peruvian crow was supposed to be. Yes, I believe Crow joining me for a bit was indeed a good sign.
The term “medicine” is not always just a means for healing. It can, in some belief systems, also refer to the knowledge and power found in every life form. In many cultures around the globe the circle and cross of the medicine wheel is also know as “the four quarters of the world”.
The basic medicine wheel is in four parts and represents the four directions, each with a color, element, and one of the four “races” of the world. North is white, represents air and the animal people. South is red, represents water and plant people. East is yellow, represents fire and human people. Finally, West is black, represents earth and the stone people. Positioning of these may vary among the many medicine wheel traditions found around the world. For example, having south’s color green (for the plant people) instead of red is not uncommon.
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