"To the tune of Sing A Song of Sixpence"

Sing A Song of Compost

Sing a song of compost by the apple tree
Learn about the secrets there for you and me.
Make your own compost and spread it on the land
It's fun to make and fun to do, so come and take my hand!

First you put some branches at the bottom of the bin
This will make a base for all that will go in.
Then you build the layers, one by one
Making compost in the yard can be so much fun!

Alternate the layers of brown and of green
Sprinkle bits of water all in between.
As the pile gets higher, turn it once for air
Then you let it sit and cook for months without a care.

The compost pile will cook and you know it will get hot!
Red wriggler worms they like it quite a lot!
They eat all the food scraps and make the black gold
Miraculous and magical, a wonder to behold.

When you finally open up the compost bin
Put your hand inside and look right in
No more leaves or clippings or old banana peels
Only dirt so rich and black, how soft it really feels!

Then you take the compost and spread it on the ground
Underneath the roses or in a little mound
Plant your beans and pumpkins or any other seed
Vitamins for vegetables, the soil it really feeds!

If you're feeling fancy, make a kind of tea
Not the kind for cookies, for grandma and me
Compost in a bucket filled with water fine
Gives an extra feeding for tomatoes on the vine!

Now you've made some compost, I hope you've had some fun
Finding all the magic underneath the sun.
Keep a compost cooking by the apple tree
​Tell your friends about it all and share the recipe!

© written by Christine Summerfield/March 31, 2019

Clematis Has Arrived!

Now it is the month of June
I've been waiting for you all
For your flowers bold and bright
On my trellis tall.

The roses they have had their turn
With their sweet perfume
Now Clematis takes the stage
With giant purple blooms!

A fountain full of blossoms wide
In the summer hours
Announcing "we have all arrived!"
A festival of flowers.

"Our petals make a diamond shape
One two and three and four
We love to climb on arbors high
Or grow around your door.

"Our centers they are yellowy green
with tiny funny squiggles
When the bees come tickle us
We give a little giggle!"

We like to mingle here and there
with the other vines.
But we prefer to make a scene
in the summer time!

So when you're in my garden green
Be sure to take the time
To see Clematis bold and strong
The giant purple vine!


written by Christine Summerfield
July 17, 2018

Springtime's Magic Snow

Petals falling on the ground, what makes you wander so?
Silently, without a sound...spring time's magic snow.

When the wind it comes around, blowing to and fro
Like snowflakes swirling round and round, spring time's magic snow.

Fluffy, white and silky soft on my fingers and toes
Tufty white and milky...springtime's magic snow

If you're wondering who it is, his name by now you'll know
Thank you Crab Tree for your gift, spring time's magic snow!

​written by Christine Summerfield, May 30, 2018

She is a maiden young and sweet
For a brief time she appears
Stop your chatter, slow your feet
With gentleness draw near.

She bends her graceful neck so long
Towards the earth below
Her necklace full of little bells
Tinkles in a row.

To find her you must quietly 
Kneel on bended knee
And bow to her with tender grace
And kind humility.

 For she is pure of heart you see, a flower of chastity
Her name is Lily soft and sweet, a vision of purity.

She is protected by her knight, his leaves so green and wide
They wrap around her lovingly, the beloved at her side.

But best of all that you will find is her sweet perfume
​A fragrance strong that emanates from her tiny blooms.

She lives not on the mountaintop but in the quiet shade
She calls her groom so humbly with a gentle serenade.

So if you take the time to stop and bow on bended knee
You just might find the maiden fair, Lily of the Valley.

written by Christine Summerfield, May 19, 2018

​Dandy Boy
 
As I was digging up the weeds with my trusty trowel
I saw something flitter by and then I heard a howl.
 
“Ouch!” I heard, “please do stop! and leave us all alone
You almost knocked me off of my shiny golden throne!”
 
I looked and bent down on my knee and who did I see?
A tiny little fairy boy looking up at me.
 
He stood up tall amidst the grass of polka dotted yellow
He was not afraid of me, this brave and jolly fellow.
 
His jacket gold had buttons brown, with edges rough and ragged
His collar green it zigged and zagged and it was kind of jagged.
 
His buttery hair of curly locks was scriffy and a scruffy
His scepter tall of tiny seeds was round and kind of puffy.
 
He smiled at me and bid ‘bonjour’ with his eyes of blue
They twinkled in the morning sun and even sparkled too.
 
But best of were his green tights with yellow polka dots
They were fun to look at and I liked them quite a lot!
 
He told me of his kingdom bright, this little fairy boy
Of dandelions in the grass, his noble pride and joy.
 
“Oh yes, my name is Dandy Boy, I am the Golden King
Of this dandelion patch in the time of spring!
 
My name it comes from the French, 'Dent de Lion' you see
Its meaning is the 'Lion’s Tooth', like jagged leaves of green.
 
Like the Lion is the king of the jungle land
I am ruler of this field, it is at my command.
 
All kinds of creatures greet me and my flowers all the day
The ladybugs and honeybees and beetles black and grey.
 
The caterpillars and the birds also like to feast
While rabbits like to nibble on the young and tender leaves.
 
So please don’t dig the dandelions or mow them all away
Leave them in the grass to grow and let my creatures play!”
 
 
I thanked the little Dandy Boy, the sunny, yellow King
For caring for his kingdom bright in the months of spring.
 
And now when I see the polka dotted field of gold
I take a moment and think about that royal kingdom bold.
 
I put my trusty trowel away and watch with wondrous eyes
Honeybees and caterpillars and the butterflies.
 
I smile at they gather round these little blossoms yellow
And visit with the Dandy Boy, that jolly little fellow.

written by Christine Summerfield, May 5, 2018

​Return of the Spring Time Lace
 
Remember how I shared with you
In the cooler days of fall?
About the last of the summer lace
The garden’s delicate shawl?
 
And how I took my curtains down
So light and pale and sheer
And hung my heavy panels up
To warm my home so dear.
 
Well now it is the first of May
And I can hardly wait
To hang the lace back up again
With patterns so ornate.
 
Outside my garden comes alive
In the month of May
The Queen's wedding day has arrived
With a glorious display!
 
Of white and cream and ivory
And fragrance pure and sweet
Her garments they adorn her
From her head down to her feet.
 
First there is the Apple tree
A shimmery snowy crown
Her blossoms white they fill the sky
A canopy big and round.
 
​Another garment that she bears
Is a fragrant lacy gown
Spirea and the Lilacs
The talk of all the town!
 
And then her slippers white she wears
On carpet soft and sweet
Woodruff, and the candytuft
Adorn her gentle feet.
 
But her favorite one of all
Is when you look down low
For Lily of the Valleys white
Springtime’s magic snow!
 
As I behold the blossoms white
On this first of May
I too I want to celebrate
In my simple way.
 
I adorn my little house
With veils of white and cream
Tablecloths and curtains too
Awaiting summer’s dream.
 
The lace bestows a bit of ease
And lets the light shine through
It blows so gently in the breeze
Against the sky so blue.
 
I also clip some branches long
From my Hawthorn tree
And on my tablecloth they stand
With blossoms white and free.
 
It is said in tales of old
That Lady Guinevere
Married Arthur at this time
Her beloved King so dear.
 
So as you wed your gallant King
In my garden green
May you bless each living thing
And the spaces in between.
 
And rule o’er your kingdom fair
O maiden and her knight
With goodness, love and peacefulness
And flowers pure and white.

written by Christine Summerfield, May 1, 2018

One morning as I walked a long my garden path in spring
I thought I heard a tiny sound, a ting a ling a ling...
I bent down low and I beheld in the morning light
Two daffodils so small and gold ringing with delight
They were chatting with special words, so heavenly divine
They laughed and spoke so beautifully, in a favorite language of mine.

I asked them "beg your pardon please, but tell me who are you?
"You seem just like the best of friends, so loyal and so true."

And this was their reply:

"Mais oui, we are a daffodil, our name is "tete-a-tete"
One of us is chere Pierrette, the other is Paulette.
We are two flowers on one stem and we are best of friends
We are committed to each other 'til the very end.
We're not so big, we're not so "grande", as other jonquilles tall
We rather like to sit down low by violetttes so small.
For then, we can converse you see, with quiet privacy
We chat and talk of everything, in perfect company.
Tete a Tete is French you know, it means a Rendezvous
A special time for friends to meet, only for us two.
Our friendship is so precious, our time we love to spend
In the garden heart to heart, we are the best of friends!"

And as I listened to the two, I was so deeply touched
And then I thought about my friend, I treasure her so much.
And so I knocked upon her door, and invited her to tea
In my garden oh so sweet, time for her and me.
Not only were we head to head, but heart to heart we sat
We giggled like the flowers too, can you imagine that!

So if you have a special friend, do give her a call
And have your own tete a tete, like the daffodils so small.
You will have the best of times with your cups of tea
And maybe speak a little French with your bonne amie.

written by Christine Summerfield-April 21, 2018
​

Kissed by Tulips

Another one of my favorite bulbs that blooms in early spring
Are tulips that come in every size and color that brightly sing!
Red, orange, yellow warm and pinks of every hue
Maroon and violet also shine and say hello to you!

Some are tall and stand right up to wind and rain and snow
And some are short and delicate, to see them, bend down low.

And as I pondered for awhile about the Tulip name
I love to think 'bout words and rhymes, what a funny game.
For it sounds just like "two lips" that smile and whisper too
What is the meaning of your name? Will you tell me true?

And then I heard a soft reply from the tulip Queen herself
She giggled and told me little secrets, like a tiny elf!
"Yes, we have a funny name, it's easy for you to say
We paint the gardens in the spring, in April and in May.

"We join our petals, four, five, six, we make a sturdy cup
A chalice round and magical where faeries like to sup.
Sometimes in the evenings, there is merriment so fine
With dancing, singing and a feast with dandelion wine.

Here's a way you can remember our name so sweet and dear
Our petals are soft like a mother's lips that whisper in your ear.
We sing you songs and lullabies in springtime afternoons
To children, babies, mothers too, a perfect napping tune."

And then I felt a gentle kiss from the flower fine
Thanking me for stopping by to hear its little rhyme.
So if you see the tulips bright in early days of spring
Bow before the Tulip Queen, you just might hear her sing.

But best of all is if you feel a brush against your cheek
From her two lips you will have a kiss so soft and sweet.

Written by Christine Summerfield-April 18, 2018