Friday Flowers: A Few Camellias

Camellia Japonica: C.M. Wilson

Happiness
(By Carl Sandburg)

I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell
     me what is happiness.
And I went to famous executives who boss the work of
     thousands of men.
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though
     I was trying to fool with them
And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along
     the Desplaines river
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with
     their women and children and a keg of beer and an
     accordion.

Camellia: Happy Holidays

Well, I couldn't find an appropriate poet's birth date to go with our lovely camellias. Therefore, I fell back on this Sandburg classic, simple but strong. And, with such gorgeous flowers to appreciate, how can one not be inspired towards happiness?

As for the camellias, I'm happy that I was finally able to share them with you. Again, they're from my trip to the Huntington. I was hoping to get around to one of the flower show, but that hasn't happened. Being so late in the season, it's unlikely that I'll get around to showcasing one this time. Oh well, there's always next year. ;-)

Friday Flowers: Winter Blooming Bergenia

Bergenia Crassifolia: Winter Blooming Bergenia

The Road and the End
(By Carl Sandburg)

I shall foot it
Down the roadway in the dusk,
Where shapes of hunger wander
And the fugitives of pain go by.
I shall foot it
In the silence of the morning,
See the night slur into dawn,
Hear the slow great winds arise
Where tall trees flank the way
And shoulder toward the sky.

The broken boulders by the road
Shall not commemorate my ruin.
Regret shall be the gravel under foot.
I shall watch for
Slim birds swift of wing
That go where wind and ranks of thunder
Drive the wild processionals of rain.

The dust of the traveled road
Shall touch my hands and face.


Carl Sandburg was born on January 6, 1878. I go through phases from avid enthusiasm and jaded dismissal towards his poetry. For me, his poems are like a beloved but worn article of clothing, which I enjoy wearing but frequently desire to replace with something new and fashionable. Yet, I always come back these poems, like comfort food for the soul. ;-)

Bergenia Crassifolia: Winter Blooming Bergenia

And what of the bergenia? Well, I think that their beauty speaks for itself. After all, it wouldn't be Winter without Winter Blooming Bergenias.

Friday Flowers: Autumn's First Post

Plumbago Capensis, also known as Cape Leadwort (South Africa)


Autumn Movement
(By Carl Sandburg)

I cried over beautiful things knowing no beautiful thing lasts.

The field of cornflower yellow is a scarf at the neck of the copper sunburned woman,
     the mother of the year, the taker of seeds.

The northwest wind comes and the yellow is torn full of holes, new beautiful things
     come in the first spit of snow on the northwest wind, and the old things go,
     not one lasts.


Well, I had promised some orchids, but I thought to change it up. We'll share the orchid photos with you all eventually, but how's about some lovely leadwort? Got to love the protocarnivorous plants. ;-)

Plumbago Capensis (Plumbaginaceae)

Why would anyone name such pretties something as unattractive as leadwort?