The setting a terminal moraine south of Philo center of the universe for an interesting group of people A clearing in the woods just happened as trees have been planted over thirty years passing But a just right space on a just right summer's day as the setting for beauty unfolded A bride, a [...]
Just right tall lush and dark green a picture of health and productivity A child of success the corn plant stood food factory, par excellance From one tiny seed six hundred grew a hundred day miracle of science, environment, and work A symphony American genetics, engineering, machinery, ethics and government conducted by a people, [...]
A distant rumble Darkening sky The birds fluttering for a haven Big drops splash here and there Let the big show begin! Now thunder rolling Lightning cracking, sizzling The clouds unload, raindrops pounding Leaves doing a panic dance Puddles forming gutters gurgling A car splashes past Wipers pounding back and forth in vain The [...]
An evening on the prairie Sun sinking a way out west A cool gentle breeze swishing the corn leaves And a comfortable chair on the screened porch My shirt still wet from the evening's work Tiredness melting away with the breeze Reflect on life And blessings The rich black soil that gives and sustains [...]
Rain, rain and more rain soggy earth saturated the crops stand and take it Creation sent the glaciers: Nebraskan, Aftonian, Kansan, Yarmouth, Illinois and Sangamon, the pressed their weight on the face of the earth and ironed it flat through here So we're flat! So flat the water stands no direction bidding, calling We [...]
Nature has so many built in things that can divide, separate us Where we happen to be born The parents, and all their learned differences The circumstances, so varied yet important Our feet get put on Life's Highway and we travel on Left to see...or not Hear...or not... Touch...or not. So we cling to our [...]
The robins and the doves have one thing on their minds: building the perfect nest NOW! Twigs and straws pieces of grass and weeds carried in beaks announce a spot has been chosen selected in very particular places Fascinating the design, the process that each species seems to know that temporary home so necessary [...]
Looking back on half a century and the time and season of planting I can bear witness, I think to something said to me back at the beginning: "Holy Week the weather's always troublesome!" How about 48 out of 50? That's how often I wanted to plant but weather intervened. This year's no exception! [...]
As sure as the snow flies in northern climes The snow birds flap their wings or mount their wheels to head to southern beaches Their money flows with them restaurants and shops hotels and motels and rentals lift their signs: "No Vacancy!" The cold weary folks shed their parkas insulated caps, boots and mittens [...]
It is written that we came from the soil dust of some nature shaped into the form of man No wonder, then, there's something about soil, that draws us farmers and gardeners who use their hands to touch, ponder, the mysteries of soil The seasons are a wonder too stretching our imaginations challenging our [...]