Flowers and Flight

flowers and flight
Originally uploaded by *MaryElise*

"Band of iris-flowers
above the waves,
you are painted blue,
painted like a fresh prow
stained among the salt weeds."

~Hilda Doolittle~


The leaves are quickly falling to the ground, but it is still warm enough at my house for the flowers I planted back in June to try their fading blossoms. I know it won't be long now before the trees are bare. I had the unfortunate incident of discovering a hawk had been ravaging my feeding station and had killed many of my chipmunks and birds. I had to stop feeding for a while to discourage all my usual visitors hoping the hawk will find his feasts elsewhere. The bare trees will soon no longer help to disguise the murderous raptor. Don't get me wrong, I love all birds, including hawks, but I would prefer they didn't make meals out of my friends. It was a disquieting realization that the mini paradise I had cultivated for years was no longer the happy safe place I had assumed. I will resume my normal feeding soon, but my chipmunks would have gone into hibernation by now anyway. I will miss seeing ones I have befriended for years when they don't come back next April. So today, on a rainy cool November Saturday I remember the warmer months, when the flowers and bees and animals were just beginning their season. Turn, turn, turn...