Galanthus nivalis and Galanthus nivalis forma pleniflorus ‘Flore Pleno’, by Simon Garbutt, March 2006, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Snowdrop
by Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)
Many, many welcomes,
February fair-maid,
Ever as of old time,
Solitary firstling,
Coming in the cold time,
Prophet of the May time,
Prophet of the roses,
Many, many welcomes,
February fair-maid!
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I love this upbeat end-of-winter poem by Lord Alfred Tennyson. Just what we need (or, at least, just what I need!) on a grey February day.
I found the image on Wikimedia Commons this morning. The gardener/photographer writes:
“This is a direct scan, which I made myself, from bulbs of two different common snowdrops; the normal Galanthus nivalis and its double-flowered version, Galanthus nivalis forma pleniflorus ‘Flore Pleno’. Both are common in gardens throughout Britain, and are also found naturalised in woodland.”
Thanks, Simon, and Lord Alfred, for sharing your work, your flowers!—SK
“Lunar Libration” by Tomruen, via Wikimedia Commons
It’s time again for our monthly fun and educational compilation of the green, the furred, the finned, the extraordinary, and the thoughtful. Thank you, Karla, for sharing your newsletter! ❤ —SK
P. S. If you’re from Colorado Springs and would like Karla’s newsletter that includes local events, you can write her at karlaann45 @ gmail.com.
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Not through fear, anger & manipulation, but through LOVE, HOPE, and SMARTS: Bring it on, 2018! Humans around the world are our allies:
* * *
Hug O’ War a poem by the late Shel Silverstein
[author of A Light in the Attic]
I will not play at tug o’ war
I’d rather play at hug o’ war,
Where everyone hugs,
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.
“Tom Torlino, Navajo, before and after.” Black and white photographic portrait of a Navajo by J. N. Choate, 1882. Image courtesy of the Richard Henry Pratt Papers, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, via Wikimedia Commons.
“We cannot live in a world that is interpreted by others. An interpreted world is not a hope. Part of the terror is to take back our own listening—to use our own voice—to see our own light.” —Hildegard of Bingen
* * *
Dr. Edith Widder’s TED talk on bioluminescence :
A new morning practice: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS and SEND SOME OUT!
* * * Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. –Goethe
Straight Talk: Do we need to wipe our butts with virgin trees? NO! 27,000 trees are killed every day to make 85 million rolls of toilet paper used every day. It’s better to use sugar cane waste (bagasse) & bamboo, which are GRASSES. Grasses grow back in 1-2 years; trees take 30 years. Grasses produce 35% more oxygen than trees. Few chemicals are needed to process, so 70% of water can be re-used. Products are SOFTER, non-GMO, BPA-free, & biodegradable. Please consider switching to natural grocers” CABOO , Walgreen’s bamboo paper, or Walmart’s 100% recycled-content paper products.
* * *
“Never be limited by other peoples’ limited imagination.”—Mae Jemison
* * *
Three New Year’s resolutions that could help everyone!
1. Curb your plastic use.
2. Meatless Mondays.
3. #MeToo media selectiveness. . . . Read the science-based details here.
And . . . one more resolution that’s bigger and far more important (and more good for you). From her extraordinary book Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe.
* * *
These AFFIRMATIONS have served me well since 2015—adopt any that appeal to you:
I surrender to the Flow. I am naturally joyful-my life works best when I’m having fun.
I am the author & illustrator of my life.
I am grateful everything works out for the highest good.
I easily give & receive energy & money.
I learn a lot by tuning in to the sacred Hum of Nature.
I am empowered to bless everything and uplift everyone.
I make myself better by clear positive intentions and actions.
The Truth is: Life is Miraculous and I can’t really die.
“After all these (Trump/Kim Jong-un) hissy fits I never want to hear anyone say a woman is too emotional to be president.”—Karla
* * *
And . . . the best for last! This made me LAUGH and dance a little, too!
“All good things always rise to the surface, because goodness has no weight to hold it down.”—Karla
“Boy playing with frog”, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, via Wikimedia Commons
“I have a little friend. (I’m blessed with lots of little friends. ❤ This guy’s name is Ayden, and he is 7 years old. He was telling me about this mouse that his dad-type-guy killed. And he told me about the eyes popping out and so forth. OMG I hate mice. I said, ‘I’m a girl, Ayden. A plain ole girl. And I don’t like blood and guts and weapons and mice. None of it. I’m a girl.’ A few seconds passed….. ‘We could talk about butterflies,’ he said. So we did. OMG I love that kid. ❤ “
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I saw this perfect little story on my friend Cheri Colburn’s Facebook page this morning. I loved it and I thought you might too. Cheri’s probably one of the most fun people on the planet. She wrote an amazing mini-biography of George Washington Carver in Greenwoman #2 that was not only perfectly crafted and incredibly informative, but fun. That’s Cheri for you. Oh, and she also edited the book Fifty Shades of Green, a collection of garden stories that I like to call “the gardener/feminist’s answer to Fifty Shades of Grey”. . . Come to think of it, that book might be THE perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your favorite gardener! Take a peek at it here.
". . . Knauf 's powers of description are marvelous, as is her ability to create original, funny characters and terrific, punchy dialogue. . . . will leave readers hoping for a sequel." --BlueInk Review
By Tricia Knoll
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