Poetry is sane because it floats easily in an infinite sea; reason seeks to cross the infinite sea, and so make it finite. The result is mental exhaustion. To accept everything is an exercise, to understand everything a strain. (This and all quotes in green below are from G.K. Chesterton.)
I had another title for this blog post, something about pollinators, but when I saw the preponderance of green in the images, it made me think of Tuesday’s poem, which could be talking about my own garden that is wild with leaves and flowers popping out at a mad rate. All the glory does make it hard for me to hold a thought, and there are many I should not let go of — starting with all the outdoor tasks that won’t wait: feeding and weeding and trimming and tying….
But going back to the poem, I’ve been thinking about how it describes the way the most common natural occurrences — after all, “the world comes back” in spring year after year — can confuse and even shock us if we really pay attention. In my yard it seems that between the time I walk from the front garden to the back and return again, a new weed has sprouted or an iris has emerged.
Why have I arrived on the path by the salvia? I don’t even take time to ponder, but I immediately start pulling weeds. Then I return to the fountain and see a honeybee on a flower, and must go into the house for my camera and “waste” a few minutes attempting to record one of the thousands of thrilling things happening here, right outside my door.
There is a road from the eye to heart that does not go through the intellect.
This road leads to the heart from other sensory “gates” as well. My garden seems primarily visual, but also the rich scents of osmanthus and daphne and lavender have their own direct routes to my heart, as do the bird songs. I don’t have to think about them or know their meaning. In the poem about the “Deciduous Spring,” sounds of words are used to mimic the visual symphony or cacophony that all this burgeoning creates.
The poet only asks to get his head into the heavens.
It is the logician who seeks to get the heavens into his head. And it is his head that splits.
This week I will be adding more plants to the mix, and several of them will be of the sort that the hummingbirds and bees and other insects like. Last fall I planted five types of seeds that did not sprout: poppies, milkweed, prairie echinacea… So — I found a native plant nursery where I was able to buy two species of milkweed plants, orange Moroccan poppies, and penstemon. Visions of Monarch butterflies fill my head.
In the picture below of the waiting plants, the milkweed is mostly in the foreground, two types that are native to the western U.S.: Asclepias fascicularis and Asclepias speciosa
The perplexity of life arises from there being too many interesting things in it
for us to be interested properly in any of them.
To mention a pair of not-green things: The orioles are back! Not in the group that I am trying to attract with certain flowering plants, their preference is sugar water.
They are very shy, so I’m not going to try to take new pictures of them. This one is from my great photographic effort last spring.
The snowballs on the viburnum are little green things so far. Green fruits are on the fig tree. I ran into a Painted Lady butterfly over there, and bumblebees, but their interest was the lithodora blossoms.
Even the tiny flowers of the Euphorbia myrsinites are swallowed up in their green leaves.
Nearly every day I fall in love again and try to capture another poppy with my camera.
This time my toes got in the picture. At least they are not green.
The whole order of things is as outrageous as any miracle
which could presume to violate it.
And below, I used a clever jar-vase that Mrs. Bread gave me for my birthday, and made a colorful bouquet that will give your eyes respite from green. It is like a little canning jar with a ring that screws on the top, but into the ring is set a florist’s frog, making it perfect for arranging odd little blooms with their often short stems that one finds in a garden like mine.
That’s my show-and-tell for today! How does your garden grow?
Gladsome Lights 
Wonderful weaving of Chesterton in your thoughts and feelings…with your pure poetry photos.
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Clearly, context is everything. Your Euphorbia myrsinites interested me, because we have some Euphorbia here that are native. I always enjoy those tiny flowers and their bracts, but I discovered that this plant is considered a noxious weed in Colorado, Oregon, and parts of Utah, and people are legally required to eradicate it. Very interesting.
Our native green milkweeds are coming into full bloom now, and Monarchs are passing by. How well nature works things out!
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Linda, a friend sent me this article http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3133#b about poisonous plants – I didn’t know before reading it that euphorbias were poisonous or that there were SO many of them!
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So wonderful to see your garden starting to burst forth with new growth and color and scents. I know it makes you feel thankful and joyous.
Have a wonderful weekend ~ FlowerLady
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Spring! Nothing is quite like that excitement! We are having a winter wonderland, here. I knew snow was predicted for today, but assumed, foolishly, it would be a few flakes that did not stay. It is much more than that. I always wanted to grow Jerusalem Sage from reading Christopher Lloyd’s books, but it will not withstand our NE Ohio climate. But I did see them growing when I was in Edinburgh in 2010. In a group they are especially satisfying. Orioles! Sometimes we have one at the cottage but nothing here at home. What plants do you have to attract them? My cousin, a great birder, suggested an orange bird feeder with a place to attach oranges slices and cups for grape jelly. I bought it…We’ll see how it works. I think it will.
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The orioles came for my hummingbird feeder! It’s not orange, but unlike some hummer feeders, it has large openings from which they can drink. Last year when they first visited, I researched about them and saw those special oriole feeders, but since mine was working for both orioles and hummers, I didn’t get one. Once I did put some oranges out for the orioles but they didn’t bother with them. If you get some orioles at your feeder, and if they actually eat the oranges, please tell me 🙂
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Heather, my cousin, said they don’t go for the oranges that much, but are crazy about grape jelly.
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My garden is not nearly so tidy as yours! I think I have a vase very like yours, with the built-in flog in the lid. Mine is more an oval shape. I LOVE the Chesterton quotes throughout. I think he sees things as I do, which is a comfort, esp. when he expresses it so well. My mind says, “Ah, yes! That’s exactly how I feel.” When I’m outdoors puttering (my word for what you seem to do also), there are many paths from the senses to the heart, over and over. Smells, sounds, sights, little images of nature. I find it very comforting to the heart, and it relaxes the mind to keep it less engaged. I wish I could stroll through your garden with you! Your peas are a treat 🙂
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So much lovely green! It’s pouring snow, not sticking, and a mean wind drives it all to the front. I think I would enjoy your garden more…at least right now.
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Your yard is alive with flowers and birds!! The jar-vase is quite different… very useful idea.
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“There is a road from the eye to heart that does not go through the intellect…This road leads to the heart from other sensory ‘gates’ as well.”
I like this quote of yours, and I understand you. The orioles are magnificent, aren’t they? That lightning orange color fascinates me. I really like your flower jar with the beautiful bouquet.
No blossoms just yet, but daffodils are close to bloom!
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Your garden is a real joy to behold! So much beauty. Your Orioles are so bright and pretty! Our birds in the garden tend to be more drab colours but equally chirpy and welcome! The Chesterton text is both apt and inspiring. x
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“The perplexity of life arises from there being too many interesting things in it for us to be interested properly in any of them.” YES! That explains my ADD! 🙂
I love the Chesterton quotes! I have a couple of Chesterton bios and titles in my Kindle but haven’t gotten around to them yet. Your garden is beautiful, and I love the little bouquet!
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I’ve had such a busy evening, and reading this post was so refreshing.
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OH! I wonder what it will be like here when we get rain again! Just breathtaking pictures! Thanks.
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