Ferguson: First Day of May

First day in May, Ferguson, Missouri. May 2018.

On the first day of May, I took a walk in Ferguson.

First day in May, Ferguson, Missouri. May 2018.

It seems spring has finally arrived.

First day in May, Ferguson, Missouri. May 2018.

First day in May, Ferguson, Missouri. May 2018.

A cumulative slide show of Ferguson below:

First day in May, Ferguson, Missouri. May 2018.

I think I hear angels singing.

St. Louis: Castlewood State Park: Spring Signs

Castlewood State Park, Missouri. April 11, 2018.

A slow walk on a Castlewood State Park trail on a sunny, warm Wednesday.

The trees haven't leafed out yet, but there are several varieties of wildflowers waving in the breeze - deep purples, some flashes of underside-fuschia, white, periwinkle blue.

Dismembered carcasses of trees pounded by last year's flooding lay atop the grasses.


A sweet, breezy video below of white wildflowers:

Ferguson: Spring Gone Missing

Bringing Spring home. Ferguson, Missouri. April 2018.

Oh, where is Spring?

Bringing Spring home. Ferguson, Missouri. April 2018.

It snowed on Easter.

Bringing Spring home. Ferguson, Missouri. April 2018.

 Unacceptable.

Bringing Spring home. Ferguson, Missouri. April 2018.

I had to take matters into my own hands.

Bringing Spring home. Ferguson, Missouri. April 2018.

On Monday, I picked up a bouquet of Spring from the local grocer. I put it next to the long-ago deflowered paper whites from official winter, which I clip every once in awhile to create the illusion of Spring to come.

Bringing Spring home. Ferguson, Missouri. April 2018.

 No, no, no, no. I am finished with winters in cold lands.

Bringing Spring home. Ferguson, Missouri. April 2018.

I am already planning my next annual home. It will be a warm and sunny place.

In the meantime, these yellow and red-cheeked tulips sustain my spirit.

El Paso: UTEP: Red Burlesque

Flower burlesque, UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

A morning on the UTEP campus one sunny May day.

Flower burlesque, UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

Splashes of red peeked through long, slender stems.

Flower burlesque, UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

Teasing.

Flower burlesque, UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

Tantalizing.

Flower burlesque, UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

Titillating.

Flower burlesque, UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

Now you see me; now you don't.

Flower burlesque, UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

Feathery boas.

Flower burlesque, UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

Flower burlesque, UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

El Paso: UTEP: Peekaboo Pink

On the UTEP campus one bright May day.

Peekaboo pink, UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

Pinkicity.

Peekaboo pink, UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

Pretty.

Peekaboo pink, UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

El Paso: UTEP: A Couple of Days in May

UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

May 2017



I look at these photos from a couple of days in May, and a slow, deep exhale of appreciation escapes me. 

UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

Damn.

UTEP, El Paso, Texas. May 2017.

I am reminded of a story. Years ago, I tackled the lack of sidewalks in the community where I lived at the time. I said sheepishly to my friend, "I know it's not a super important issue, but ...."

My friend stopped me right there and told me that even the simplest things can have a major impact on others. She gave me the example of Ladybird Johnson and the bluebells. Since then, I have witnessed other testimonies to the power of small and beautiful.

So it is with UTEP's thoughtful, intentional investment in the beauty of its campus. When we walk in the midst of such beauty, it soothes, smooths, and refreshes our spirits.

El Paso: UTEP: Dainty Ladies in April

For such a small garden, UTEP's Chihuahua Desert Garden regularly offers such sweet delicacies.

It revealed these dainties one afternoon in April:

Flower dainties, UTEP, Chihuahuan Desert Garden, El Paso, Texas. April 2017.

Flower dainties, UTEP, Chihuahuan Desert Garden, El Paso, Texas. April 2017.

Flower dainties, UTEP, Chihuahua Desert Garden, El Paso, Texas. April 2017.

Flower dainties, UTEP, Chihuahuan Desert Garden, El Paso, Texas. April 2017.

In the video below, the tiny movements in response to a baby breeze encourages one to take calm breaths while thinking of sweet nothing:

El Paso: UTEP: An Ocotillo Day

Ocotillo in April, Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, UTEP, El Paso, Texas.

The stalky ocotillo may be my favorite desert plant. Seeing these April ocotillos at UTEP's Chihuahuan Desert Gardens was like seeing a cherished friend.


When dormant, the ocotillo is just a spiny, angular, unattractive reedy collection of gray stalks. But when it blooms and when it leafs out, oh, I admire how it preens so prettily against the sky.

Ocotillo in April, Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, UTEP, El Paso, Texas.

An ocotillo I crushed on at Leasburg Dam State Park in New Mexico a few years back:

Ocotillo at Leasburg Dam State Park, New Mexico. May 2013.

Ocotillo at Leasburg Dam State Park, New Mexico. May 2013.

Ocotillo at Leasburg Dam State Park, New Mexico. May 2013.

See that hummingbird up there?

El Paso: Poppies Festival

Prickly poppy, El Paso, Texas. April 2017.

Scenes from the 2017 Poppies Festival. 

Texas rainbow cactus, El Paso, Texas. April 2017.

Prickly poppy, El Paso, Texas. April 2017.

 I like the green seed pods at the top of the prickly poppy above. They look like baby birds chirping to be fed.

Texas rainbow cactus, El Paso, Texas. April 2017.

Prickly poppy, El Paso, Texas. April 2017.

Texas rainbow cactus, El Paso, Texas. April 2017.

Prickly poppy, El Paso, Texas. April 2017.

Blowing in the El Paso wind below:

El Paso: UTEP: Vellum and Velvet

Early spring flowers, UTEP, Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, El Paso, Texas. February 2017.

February 2017

Graceful fold of a tangerine sarong.

Early spring flowers, UTEP, Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, El Paso, Texas. February 2017.

Brave little beings venture out in early-early Spring.

Early spring flowers, UTEP, Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, El Paso, Texas. February 2017.

Vellum riplets invite a barely-there stroke of one's fingers to feel the tiny geography.

Early spring flowers, UTEP, Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, El Paso, Texas. February 2017.

Velvety blossom babies emerge like new mammals, eyes closed, but seeking light and warmth.

Early spring flowers, UTEP, Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, El Paso, Texas. February 2017.

Early spring flowers, UTEP, Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, El Paso, Texas. February 2017.

Early spring flowers, UTEP, Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, El Paso, Texas. February 2017.