WORD OF THE DAY AND DANDELION POEMS

"Dismiss me as a weed," it laughs, 

For it knows resilience is its craft. 

Roots delve deep, seeking hidden streams, 

Drawing sustenance from heaven's sunbeams."

Which leads me to the word of the day "resilience", which means to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.  At different times we have all had to show our resilience.

"Simple and fresh and fair from winter's close emerging,

As if no artifice of fashion, business, or politics, had ever been,

Forth from its sunny nook or shelter'd grass - 

innocent, golden, calm as the dawn,

The spring's first dandelion shows its trustful face."

~Walt Whitman~

We took a trip up to Skyline Drive the other day. A lot of people had the same idea as it was busier than we expected. This was on a weekday and not the weekend. Being retired we usually go when we think it is going to be relatively quiet, but the warmth and sunshine beckoned many, including us. 

My first poem is with a little help from AI, with prompts by me, changing words to suit my own ideas. Walt Whitman needs no introduction here in the States, but for those of you elsewhere you can click on his name and it will take you to more information.

My photos are from the first overlook. After looking at the gorgeous view, I was drawn to a few dandelions. Seeing the splash of yellow several yards away was enough for me to go check them out.

I thought how pretty! And then when I got home I saw a dandelion in the garden about to shed its seeds everywhere and I went, "Oh no!", aghast at the thought. Why do we do that? Poor old dandelion! And yet when we see a beautiful sculpture of one, we go "Oh that's beautiful!" and admire it.

The sculpture was part of an exhibit at The Norfolk Botanical Garden in 2013, a place we used to go regularly at one time, but it's been a long time since our last visit. 

Poor, maligned dandelion! A field of them looks gorgeous, but one in the garden is enough to make me run to get the weeding tool. There are a few other weeds, but I want to make sure they are not seedlings from the flowers we planted last year. A great gardener I am not by any stretch of the imagination, but I live in hope that we will be seeing a few pretties blooming soon. The hellebore is thriving beautifully.

ADDED NOTE: Saturday, April 20th, 2024.

A link that takes you to Instagram and tells you interesting information about the dandelion  Go here to see it. 

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your day!

THIS AND THAT

 He said..."Let's go get an ice cream"!  She of the weak will said nothing, just jumped up as fast as she could to get her shoes on, was out the door and into the car.  She was as fast as how our dear old dog used to be when we used to say "Walkies!"   Pavlov's Dogs and I are friends.

 Gregg had a Marshmallow Sundae and I, a Hot Fudge Sundae.  It was a welcome treat.

Fall and Halloween decorations are popping up in our neighborhood. 

When we got home I noticed a weed overtaking a spot it had decided to grow in.  I hadn't noticed it before. Its name is Rhomboid Mercury (thank you plant app), and its botanical name is Acalypha virginica var. rhomboidea.  It grows by easily self-seeding, which allows it to quickly spread and take over.  It grows from 6 to 24 inches tall.  I guess I know what I will be doing in the next day or so. 

I am putting together my final post on our new deck. Last night when I had gone upstairs, Gregg was still in the family room with the patio door open. It was a beautiful evening. He saw movement out of his side vision and when he looked, there was a fox staring at him, standing right next to the screen door.  I wonder if that little fox would have walked inside if it were not for the screen?  But then when Gregg made a movement to get a closer look, he quickly ran down the steps.  So, the new deck has not discouraged our local wildlife.

A European Robin from one of my online jigsaw puzzles, and next something that gave me a smile.

The kids didn't know what to make of Aunty Arabella.  She marches to the beat of her own drum. (You can look for the meaning of that at this link.)  I think Aunty Arabella and I would have gotten along just fine.  She and I hear the same drumbeats, says I smiling.  It's okay to be different.  If you have a good heart, those rays of sun will always shine through.  Starlight too!

(From Pinterest)

I am leaving you with a poem.

For what it's worth...

it's never too late,

or in my case too early,

to be whoever you want to be.

There's no time limit.

Start whenever you want.

You can change or

stay the same.

There are no rules 

to this thing.

We can make the best or 

the worst of it.

I hope you make

the best of it.

I hope you see things 

that startle you.

I hope you feel things

you've never felt before.

I hope you meet people with 

a different point of view.

I hope you live a life 

you are proud of.

and if you're not, I hope you 

have the courage to start again.

~F. Scott Fitzgerald~

Thanks for stopping by, may you have a great day, and may your drum beat loudly.  

 

A WEEK OF QUOTES - PART 2 - THEY'RE GROWING AGAIN!