Wise Lily Stories
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Madame Chartreuse Have you heard the news? Did you all hear hear? I have some little clues... About a guest who's here! She is a color like no other Come and take a peek Half of one and half of the other She is quite unique. She brings a special kind of sheen to places in the shade A mix of yellow and of green, she is on parade! Other kinds of greens do grow in my garden fair Avocado, Forest Green Sage and Moss and Pear. And then there is Pistachio Granny Apple too Effervescent Lemon Lime Will make you say "At Choo!" But this one is fluorescent green She comes from South East France A cordial made by silent monks From one hundred plants! She has a very special name It is La Grande Chartreuse Yellow Green and luminous One you can't refuse! Here's a few of her plants in my garden bed She paints the flowers and the leaves, they'll make you turn your head! Hellebore of Corsica is greeny-yellow gold Her foliage is evergreen even in winter's cold. And then Hydrangea shrub is there, her name is Annabelle Her flowers are so delicate, she's quite the Mademoiselle. And then there is a carpet wild that runs along the ground Creeping Jenny she is called, she does not make a sound. written by Christine Summerfield/June 18, 2018
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Candlestick Park Every night I walk along the same old path so dear There's always something new to see in seasons of the year. In the winter the dirty field is quiet, brown and rough The plants are dry and brittle then, they look kind of tough. The field is full of tall brown stalks that stand so quietly Like candlesticks in churches from my childhood memory. It seems like there's not much to see in this quiet time But patiently I walk each night to look for living signs. And sure enough in the spring, I see new leaves abound Sagey-greeny, big and wide, they circle round and round. It's as if they're asking me to give a little touch They're soft and fuzzy on my skin, I like it very much! I wonder what will come of them, these leaves so bright and new? With faithfulness I walk each night to see what they will do. And gradually as springtime light gives way to summer sun I watch their leaves with open eyes to see what they have done. The stalks have grown and soared with might reaching to the sky Like cathedral domes of old with their ceilings high. And then the very best of all is waiting to unfold A multitude of flowers bright, shining yellow and gold! It's as if God came down and lit each candle bright While I slept in darkness in the hours of the night. A meadow now has come alive with birds and bugs and bees Color, music, fragrance too, a wonder for all to see! As I stood in nature's church enraptured by it all I heard a tiny buzzing sound, a faint little call.... A honey bee she flew to me with her wings of gold Her legs were full of pollen rich, a story to me she told... "Now the candlesticks are lit, each flowers shining bright All our sisters travel here in the summer light. To the Mullein plants so tall, Verbascum its Latin name The herbalists of ancient lore knew of its fame. To you, these look like olden weeds, but we know value true A treasure trove of pollen gold for honey for me and you! And when the Mulleins go to sleep in the autumn time They share their seeds with all the birds in the fall sunshine. So please don't ever mow them down or throw them all away They are rich and meaningful each and every day. Grow them in your gardens too or leave them in the wild They are friendly to the touch, especially a child." I thanked the bee for telling me of the noble weed
With its flowers for the bees and its precious seed. And now when I walk along in evenings before dark I thank it as it comes to life, my beloved Candlestick Park! written by Christine Summerfield, April 19, 2018 Lavender Love Another of my beloved plants Reminds me of the South of France All year long you're short and shrubby Fat and wide and a little stubby But in the spring your stems grow slender Reaching towards the sun, you are tall and tender At the top of each stem your fragrances waft Your name "lavender" tells of your color so soft The month of July, I sit here for hours And delight in the smell of your purply flowers But the honey bees they are not sitting like me They busily work in the sun with glee Traveling and flying from stem to stem They know that you are the creme de la creme! Watching their behinds wiggle and waggle Listening to wings go tiggle and taggle They will make lavender honey so sweet To put in my tea- a real winter treat! When the bees have taken all that they can Then I walk out with my clippers in hand I cut the long stems and hang them up high Then gather the flowers when they are dry So many ways to use lavender fine Here are a few favorites of mine.. Weaving wands with ribbons so bright Or lavender baths on a cold winter's night. Sprinkled in shortbread sweet cookie dough Dipped in warm tea while the cold winds blow. Provence in my memory you'll always be In French I bid you a loving merci! Christine Summerfield/July 2016
Flowers I Can Eat In the days of winter cold I eat my salad green Spinach, kale and rainbow chard, leeks long and lean. But in the spring and summer days, it's full of colorful hues Reds and golds and oranges, purples, pinks and blues. For my garden is full of flowers that give me tasty treats I discover all the blossoms I can safely eat. For starters there's nasturtiums red that add a little spice The leaves so round are edible too, you get to eat them twice! The sunflowers and calendula stand up straight and bold They add the colors warm and bright with their petals gold. And if you want a little touch of rich and velvety sheen Sprinkle roses on the top-you'll feel just like a queen! The bachelor buttons in summer time add a lovely cornflower blue And borage helps me remember a perfect star so true! And don't forget the little ones who live just at your feet Johnny Jump Ups and violets bring a purple sweet. And if it's fragrance that you want I have the perfect plants Lavender buds so soft and warm make me dream of France. And now there's all the herbal ones that when they start to blossom Just snip the flowers from the top and in your salad toss 'em! Oregano and lemon balm chamomile and thyme Add a little bit of zest lemon and even lime! So when I make my summer salad, I take my big, round bowl And walk around my garden green for a little stroll. I sprinkle all the petals in, the biggest and the least It turns into a festival, a colorful, happy feast! And when I gently snip the flowers in evening summer light I say a thank you to each one for sharing their beauty bright. You too can grow a little garden in spring or summer heat And you'll discover all the fun flowers you can eat! written by Christine Summerfield/July 2016
Cottonwood Puffs O tiny little puffs of air floating all around You suddenly are here and there and do not make a sound. I wonder where you come from and where are you going? You seem to wander all about without a care of knowing. "We come from grandmother cottonwood tree" whispered their reply "We do not tarry very long, our breath is like a sigh" Then whoops! one landed on my nose and gave a little itch But you just merrily flew away laughing in a stitch! And then another came drifting by and softly kissed my cheek Just like a gentle lullaby you send me off to sleep. To dream of white and fluffy clouds that look a lot like you I'll see you there in summer dreams In soft skies of blue. written by Christine Summerfield/June 2016
Apple Tree Branch Another branch that reaches out and hangs over me Is full of leaves and tiny fruit from my apple tree. Your apples now are small and hard with a color of yellow-green And on the end of each round fruit a star can be seen. Each day you grow in summer time in rays of sunny gold Until one day at Michaelmas your apples we'll behold. And then they will be round and red with a flavor oh-so-sweet And I will pick your fruit each day and eat and eat and eat! Your branches they will gracefully bend towards the ground below Feeding lots of animals: the squirrels, deer and crow. But now it is the summer time and I watch the squirrels nibble On your sour apples green and listen to them squibble. But I know that your fruit will grow and I will surely wait Until the autumn days grow cool in September late. And I can dream of apple treats but the best one by and by Will be the one I like the best: delicious apple pie! written by Christine Summerfield/June 2016
The Rose When you knock upon my door in the late days of spring You will meet a climbing rose who has a song to sing. "I am called Victoria and I am very old I come from the land of England you see, and there, my story is told. The time I come from is the past of England long ago When people shared a pot of tea and time seemed oh-so-slow. I wait and wait throughout the year to share with you my blooms And when I open them so wide, out wafts my perfume. That's the secret I do share with those who take the time To stop and smell my flowers sweet, a fragrance most sublime. So please do stop your hurry now and smell me as you pass My pretty flowers soft and pink, a short time they will last. For when the sun grows very hot in the summer hours My blossoms they will fade away...I'll drop my pretty flowers. But do not worry even when the wintery days turn cold You can always think of me and the story I have told. That is why I am called 'Victorian Memory' When you need to take a pause, please remember me." written by Christine Summerfield/June 2016
Woolly Lambs Ears My name is "Woolly Lambs Ears"-I bloom in the garden in June My leaves are soft and silvery grey, just like the dreamy moon. But I do love the summer sun and I stand so straight and high Just like a silver candle stick reaching to the sky. The children love to pluck my leaves and rub them on their cheek My leaves stick out just like the ears of lambs so mild and meek. The honey bees they also love my tiny purple flowers They hover 'round me all the day throughout the summer hours. So if you see me in the garden standing straight and tall Be sure to rub one of my leaves-I wouldn't mind at all! For as you see I like to be all soft and warm and mild I am as friendly as can be to every little child. written by Christine Summerfield/June 2016
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