Memorial Day 2023

 

Have a good Memorial Day. Take time to remember.

Soldier rest! thy warfare o'er,
Dream of fighting fields no more;
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Morn of toil, nor night of waking. 

from Soldier, Rest! Thy Warfare o'er
by Sir Walter Scott

First Pink Lady's Slipper

 

Here's is the first pink lady's slipper orchid I have seen this year. I was flower hunting in the New Jersey pine barrens on May 9th and there it was. I only saw this one in flower but noted several sets of leaves. Just letting you know -- there are wild orchids blooming out there right now. Click to enlarge.

Pink lady's slipper orchids grow in association with a fungus that enables germination and provides nutrients to the plant. Once the plant is established it returns the favor by providing nutrients to the fungus. Individual plants can live for 20 years and longer in the wild.  Once you find some, you can visit the same spot every spring to see them.

A nice bunch from a previous spring. They are pollinated by bees that are attracted to the scent of the flowers. The flower's big pouch has a slit in the front that allows a bee to enter. Once inside, plant hairs direct the bee to an upper exit that requires squeezing past a pollen mass. Well played, little orchids!

Happy Mother's Day!

 

Great egret chicks acting up. Patient mother.

Click to enlarge. 

It's May!

 

Wasn't the first week of May nice? Click to enlarge.

                     

   As the Scottish poet James Thompson (1700-48) said: 

"Among the changing months, May stands confessed
The sweetest, and in fairest colors dressed!"

Wait -- Is May the shortest month of the year? It only had three letters. 

 

Not sure -- but I don't think the bees will be able to make up their minds anymore, now that they've all become May bees.

 

Just remember that although April showers bring may flowers, Mayflowers bring pilgrims.

And in closing I ask -- can February march? Well, no. But April may.