Backyard Haiku Week 19

The busy young fox

Barely stops when we call him

From the patio

Our young gum tree serves

As perfect perch for the jay

To survey his yard.

With each breath, the wind

Blows more petals to the ground -

It’s snowing in June.

The summer arrives

And garden work turns sweaty

Even in the shade

Quiet fog descends,

Precursor to summer rain.

The garden just waits.

Today Linna came

In the form of a poppy

Whose seed she once sowed.

The catbird out-sings

All other warbling beauties

That dare to compete

In this sweet Eden

It’s too easy to forget

A bully’s power

Backyard Haiku Week 18

Holiday quiet

Gives me space to think of those

Who died for freedom

How lucky we are

that California poppies

Seem to like it here

The sweaters and socks

Come back out of the drawer on

A day like today.

The baby sparrows

hopscotch across the garden

Leaning how to fly

Heady fragrance comes

From the lilac on the lane.

I can hardly breathe.

I’ve been impatient

For the yarrow to show its

brilliant yellow self.

It’s poppies again

For my dear friend, lost today.

I love you Linna.

It’s impossible

to overstate the beauty

Of blooming kousas.

Backyard Haiku Week 17

As the light wanes and

evening falls,  I remember -

Again - to give thanks.

Carolina wren

Takes a quick bath when she thinks

That we’re not looking

There’s a wrestling match

Between the trees and the wind.

The wind is winning.

From the porch we spot

One of the fox kits conked out

on a sunny log

Before the wind comes

I rescue an armful of

Peony and rose

Even when the day’s

Chilly, wet. and overcast,

There’s so much to see.

The bee is rolling

In the pollen until its

pockets fill with gold.

Every single day,

The garden changes color,

Height, and point of view.