Sixteen years ago on my desk it appeared:
A gift from my parents
To celebrate my new position,
A fresh chapter in my medical career—
A peace lily plant, young and tender,
With one newly formed white flower. >>more
Brian T. Maurer has practiced pediatrics as a Physician Assistant for thirty years. His "Marginal Notes" column appears periodically in the Cell2Soul Blog. The title "Marginal Notes" is taken from a quote by Henry David Thoreau: "I love a broad margin to my life."
Here in New England the morning breaks cool under a cloud speckled sky. A slight breeze stirs the leaves on the wisteria that has wrapped its runners around the balustrade and posts on the porch.
On one of the bare branches of an old maple across the street five blackbirds perch, occasionally jostling one another, like patrons shifting on stools at a lunch counter. >>more
Brian T. Maurer has practiced pediatrics as a Physician Assistant for thirty years. His "Marginal Notes" column appears periodically in the Cell2Soul Blog. The title "Marginal Notes" is taken from a quote by Henry David Thoreau: "I love a broad margin to my life."
As the cruelest month gave way to May, I suddenly remembered that the spring wildflowers would be out. Here I’m not referring to those various violets, crocuses and daffodils that adorn suburban lawns, but to woodland flowers, those hidden from most of us, those that reveal themselves only to the ones who make a point to seek them out.
Our local twenty-first century resident Thoreau used to lead annual wildflower walks in the woods the first weekend in May. Although I attended more than a few of his other lectures on the geological and historical aspects of New England, I never got the chance to accompany him on the wildflower walk. He used to say that he never went for a walk in the woods and came home disappointed.
So after lunch I grabbed my camera, a set of binoculars and my field notebook, and set out for the woods....more
Brian T. Maurer has practiced pediatrics as a Physician Assistant for thirty years. His "Marginal Notes" column appears periodically in the Cell2Soul Blog. The title "Marginal Notes" is taken from a quote by Henry David Thoreau: "I love a broad margin to my life."
On Krishna's birthday last Sunday (Janamashtami in India) we found this arresting colour change in a hibiscus in our garden.
It is even more interesting because after that, the plant has again resumed its daily production of pure white flowers.
Until this colour change happens once again, perhaps on the same day or another special occasion, I shall just call this an interesting coincidence and will not attach any religious significance to it.
Rakesh Biswas
Bhopal, India
[One never knows. The gods work in strange ways. The Editor]
"Full many a flower is born to blush unseen
And waste its sweetness on the desert air"
Here in the Northeast USA, we have months of monochrome. In April, colors return. Among the harbingers in a humble tree: Prunus Mume
Wayne Winterrowd, a good friend of ours, is an occasional contributor to Cell 2 Soul. He wrote a beautiful essay for C2S "To a Tree: Prunus Mume" which you can read here: Download prunus_mume_text_for_david.pdf
Please comment to Wayne at: Email
Mark White, of Omao, Kauai, Hawaii, sends us beautiful photos with welcome regularity. Here is an especially meaningful and pleasing image.
In traditional Hawaiian culture, the ti plant (cordyline fruticosa or ki
in Hawaiian) is believed to have powers as a protection against psychic
evil. It was often used as a ceremonial symbol of "The Law" standing
firm in the face of evil. Leaves would be rubbed or slapped against
people or homes to purify them. Unlike most native
traditional Hawaiian plants, ti is not associated with any particular
god, but is instead used in religious ceremonies for a whole pantheon
of dieties. Click on Ti plant to read more...
from Mark White with Aloha
Okay, so I'm obsessed with these amazing canna lilies at every stage of their growth and development. Another twisted leaf bud, set in a perfectly arrayed nest of leaves with its shadow observing its growth. The other, a flower bud, no twists on this part of the plant, growing 6 inches a day, hiding the colorful contents of its huge and showy bloom that will one day unfurl and reveal itself. One of Nature's miracles. Awesome, isn't it? -- Elaine Adler (Lexington, MA)
Our friend, the master gardener, Wayne Winterrowd of Readesboro, Vermont wrote:
"Are you really sure you want to ask me about cannas? That would be something similar to asking a dermatologist to tell everything he knows about acne or photodermatitis or something like that, whatever that something may be. Well, then, here goes. You did ask for it! To read Wayne's comments click Download Canna.pdf
