11 Thursday May 2017
Posted in environment, garden, garden meditation, home, life, Lifestyle, Poetry, spring, sustainable lifestyle
Tags
garden, home, inspiration, life, poetry
“I never had any other desire so strong, and so like to covetousness, as that one which I have had always, that I might be master at last of a small house and a large garden.”
– Abraham Cowley, 1618-1667, English poet
17 Monday Mar 2014
Posted in Back Yard Birds, birds, feeding wild birds, haiku, Lifestyle, Poetry, sustainable lifestyle, wild birds
Today was a snow day — again.
embellished teuter
My heart went out the hundreds of American Robins who are ambling here, eagerly awaiting spring in central Virginia. A few days ago when temps were in the 60’s, I marveled at the hundreds who hunted at dusk in the turf surrounding my home. They roost in the 135 Leyland cypress surrounding my property.
Turdus migratorius ~ or the American Robin
Today, with five inches of fresh, wet snow covering any hope of turf morsels, numerous Robins scrambled for any scrap when many discovered my feeders. Normally Robins prefer fat, slithering, wet earthworms, yet during conditions such as today, they attempted to choke down Nandina berries and grains from the wild bird feeders. Forced to plan B, they quickly became disgruntled, aggressive, and downright ruffled…only the Red Bellied Woodpecker held his place at the feeders when Robins descended.
a very disgruntled American Robin
I could not resist, as dusk approached, to capture images. Forgive the handheld, through-glass photos…
Robust robins await,
the snow, the thaw, the spring.
Today they all scold.
noble feathered display
rear view of pondering robin
all plumped up in order to stay warm
under the snow laden row of cypress
robins flick, flick, flick
their strong beaks,
rearranging the mulch
in search of the illusive earthworms,
who sleep just below the dormant surface.
Days at home with wild birds are very special.
The gift of observation is precious.
Time spent with them feed my creativity and poetic spirit.
I am glad to share my day with you.
Copyright © 2014 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
29 Monday Jul 2013
Posted in Back Yard Birds, blessings, Bluebirds, environment, farmer's market, garden, Lifestyle, mission, Poetry, season, summer, sustainable lifestyle
Tags
This time of year there is a subtle shift…the sun is in a different location.
Gardeners spend so much time planning for spring, that summer slips right in.
Time for harvest, time for county fairs, time for blissful naps in the hammock.
time to crack the jam cookbooks
This morning as I guided my little wheelbarrow around the gardens
before the sun rose,
before the dew dried,
I noticed how swollen the grapes;
how fragrant the lambs ear as I trimmed off spent blossoms,
how quiet the landscape before bees awaken.
The gentle burble of the Bluebird’s call,
the racking squawk of Mary Mockingbird,
and how different from the low coo of the Robin;
I catch myself thinking of fall!
And harvest!
And bounty!
And preserves!
plump local plums ready for jam
the path to righteousness
local, just picked blackberries called for immediate attention on Sunday
whirling divine
the last five cups went into this blackberry cobbler
Swallowtail Cottage is filled with heavenly aromas
as the process begins…
freshly capped jars ready for market
plum jam ready for labels
a dozing dove sits just outside my kitchen door, perhaps enjoying the aromas
peaches, nectarines, and plums, oh my!
same beekeeper; the jar on the left is summer honey and the jar on the right is spring honey. Either way divine!
Sending blessings for a wonderful harvest season.
Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
24 Sunday Mar 2013
Posted in Back Yard Birds, environment, garden meditation, Hiaku, nature, photography, Poetry, spring, Virginia
Tags
Haiku, heavy heaven, mourning doves, snow daze, snow peas, spring, Virginia
mourning doves hunker down
as night falls
will peas forgive this?
cypress leaning to the ground
heavy heaven sent
hinoki matted down
the sundial sleeps
Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
18 Thursday Oct 2012
Posted in Lifestyle, nature, photography, Poetry, season
too soon october flys
november lurking in dreary skies
~ Diane LaSauce
Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
08 Sunday Jul 2012
Tags
beauty, nature, photography, plants, poetry, summer flowers, Virginia
The following images resound from the gardens surrounding my home despite horrendous heat and humidity…
Queen Ann, Queen Ann has washed her lace
she chose a summer’s day and laid it in a grassy place
to whiten if it may.
Queen Ann, Queen Ann
has left it there and slept all through the night
to wake to find the sunshine fair and all the meadows white.
Queen Ann, Queen Ann
is dead and gone, she died a summer’s day
yet left her lace to whiten on, each weed and tangled way.
Author Unknown
(I memorized this poem as a child)
Copyright © 2012 By Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
23 Monday Apr 2012
Posted in farmer's market, Lifestyle, Poetry, spring flowers, sustainable lifestyle
Tags
Buy Fresh Buy Local, Charlottesville City Market, design, farmer's market, poetry, shopping, support local businesses, vacation
Buy Fresh Buy Local® ~ Support local businesses.
Have you visited your local farmer’s market recently?
Things are happening there!
You know the drill…glide your mouse over images for further information. 😉
Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul. ~ Mario Quintana
Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
30 Friday Mar 2012
Posted in Back Yard Birds, birds, Bluebirds, garden, Lifestyle, March, photography, Poetry, season, sustainable lifestyle
they are unique
they are beautiful
they survive.
they fight wickedly
then feed their mate before
themselves.
they are nurturing
they are clever
they do not waste.
they are quick
they are wise
they are free.
they are acrobats
they are magnificent
they color seasons
they are present
they remember.
Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
16 Friday Mar 2012
Posted in environment, garden, garden meditation, home, home ownership, life, Lifestyle, Poetry, renewal, season, spring, sustainable lifestyle, Virginia
when spring awakes,
I am not ready.
my rested bones sigh
at chores ahead.
the gardens demand attention—
feed me, sow me, weed me, turn me.
when spring awakes,
my sleek hair takes on
another life—frizz.
I grumble as the
tidy hoses unfurl,
and brace as I haul
against their weight.
when spring awakes,
I wonder
shall I hoe, plant, harvest, outwit
insects?
or shall I give in to another.
Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
22 Thursday Sep 2011
Posted in blessings, garden, mission, Monarch butterflies, Poetry
Today I released the last of twelve wild monarch butterflies. Each year I plant their host plant, tropical milkweed, in my registered Monarch Waystation where females lay their eggs. A few days later, I find the tiny larva, raise them indoors until large enough to place back in the garden, then monitor their growth, protect them from predators, then return them to the safety of the house, where they form their chrysalises.
outdoors the larvae are protected from predation with paint sleeves that are twist tied at the bottom. There larvae can grow and eat in safety. Paint sleeves are cheap at any paint store and can be washed and reused season after season.
About nine days later, they emerge into the magnificent Monarchs we readily recognize. When these beauties are fully dry and active, I release them back into the garden, where they nectar on the milkweed and phlox, gaining strength for their long migration.
feeding the larvae indoors for a few days before they pupate safely in the lettuce container. They will safely emerge in 14 days when they can be released to the wild.
Feeding larvae indoors when really tiny or when they are ready to pupate
black swallowtail ready for release. Fun to have it in my office for glamour shots first…
Over the past four years, I raised over one-thousand monarchs and dozens of black swallowtails and handfuls of Fritillaries and Red Spotted Purples.
Monarchs are endangered therefore I do my part to insure that those who find my garden prevail while they are here. Fewer than 1% of monarch eggs will survive in the wild without help. When I began this hobby, I had an excellent teacher, who to this day continues to answer questions, that to the novice bystander, would seem bizarre. Check out her website at www.socialbtrflies.com.
This day is one of celebration, as 100% of my caterpillars emerged healthy. This day is also bittersweet, as I must bid my creatures farewell, never to know their ultimate fate. So fly strong and high mighty Monarchs. May gentle currents glide you to your winter home.
Butterfly Prayer
May you be happy and peaceful,
May you be healthy and strong.
May you be safe and protected from harm.
May you be at ease in your lives.
~ S. Laufer
Copyright © 2011 by Diane LaSauce all rights reserved
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