May Day Garden Musing

Why I Wake Early


Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who made the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and the crotchety –
best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light –
good morning, good morning, good morning.
Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.

                ---by Mary Oliver


Anyone who knows me well knows that I am not an early morning person. For years I dreamed of the day I could sleep in on weekdays.  Ironically, now that I finally can most days, I find myself getting up between 6 and 6:30 AM.  That's not the crack of dawn at this time of year, but it's still early enough to enjoy the first rays of sunlight as they streak through the trees and highlight the gardens.  Sitting in my favorite perch, the front porch swing, with a cup of tea in hand, I can watch the birds fly about and listen to their morning songs. 

Even Sasha with her dark calico coat, seems to glow in the early sunlight.

Sometimes the morning can bring something unexpected.  One of the old apple trees fell victim to the very strong winds we have had the past two days. 

I was out doing some trimming yesterday morning because it was just too windy to plant any of the new plants I recently purchased, and I noticed the top of the trunk actually swaying in the wind.  I shouldn't have been too surprised then to see this main branch break off as the trunk was nearly hollow close to the ground. I guess it was only a matter of time, but it was rather ironic that this should happen the day before Arbor Day.

Fortunately, there are enough trees in the front yard for a perfect Arbor Day celebration. Did you plant a tree for Arbor Day?

Garden Muse Day is sponsored the first of each month by Carolyn Gail at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago.  Thanks, Carolyn.  And thanks to fellow bloggers who first introduced me to the poetry of Mary Oliver.  She is truly a nature-lover's poet!