Tiny Wildflowers 4

Know the names

Hello, Poetry Friend

“Lady Bird’s centaury,” by Nan Henke

A week after our show opened, Nan texted me a photo of purple wood sorrel she found on her walk. That particular flower has been painted and been poemed, but there it is, blooming on. Much like the blue-eyed grass nestled well amidst my St. Augustine. It doesn’t know it’s a star at the gallery down the road.

It has been good to learn the names of things, not just their colors. All of us—humans, locusts, Labrador retrievers, tiny wildflowers—have names.

“It would be wonderful if you knew the names of the trees between your house and where you work, between your house and your church. If you knew that that was a tulip tree and you knew that that was a redbud. It would be great if you knew the names of the constellations.

–Rich Mullins, 20: The Countdown Magazine Remembers Rich Mullins

I do know my trees. I don’t know my constellations. Thanks to Nan paying attention on walks around her ranch, I know a few more wildflowers—tiny ones taken for weeds, or even worse, invasives. Worthy of the attention of a pencil or a brush.

We’ve had a wonderfully mild summer, with lots of rain. I’ve spent more than a few August mornings on my back patio (ceiling fan on high), watching Mexican marigold, Russian sage, and oleander compete for hummingbirds and bees. The beautyberry is about to burst purple and join the fray. And the Turk’s cap keeps on keeping on.

Turk’s cap

impossible love
hidden within Malvaviscus drummondii 
bumblebee dives in headfirst

–Megan Willome

There’s still time to come to the show! Visit Fredericksburg Art Guild if you happen to be in Fredericksburg, Texas on a Thursday-Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

August 2-September 1, 2024

Happy poeming!

Megan

P.S. Painting & Poem combinations may be purchased by contacting the guild at 830/997-4949 or FredericksburgArtGuild@gmail.com.