There I was, up to my knees in the meadow, sniffing the breeze the way Miss Sadie and the Cowboy do. July is a fragrant month around here. Hot. Humid. Filled with the small sounds of insects going about their important business.
Driving along the ribbon roads you might form an impression of green or tawny grasses flowing by. Get out of the car and stand at the edge of the meadow and you will see an astonishing variety of life: grasses, clovers, alfalfa, native wildflowers, invasive species–and stray garden plants that wandered in and liked the neighborhood.
Wading through a meadow reminds me of Gram. I look for the creek. I reach for her hand. It’s always there.
This post is for Bonnie, and would have a soundtrack if I could manage it. Feel free to hum along. Over in the meadow in the sand, in the sun, Lived an old mother turtle and her little turtle one . . .
I went looking for a proper Over in the Meadow link for you, and found one that has the words and music I remember. Then I happened on Kit, Fan, Tot and the rest of them, a book of stories by Olive A. Wadsworth published in 1870. It’s sentimental and didactic but I was thrilled to find it because my Civil War veterans probably read it to their children. There, on page 187, is a different version. Gram and I were great improvisers.
Perhaps we should have a little contest. The person who can identify–correctly–the greatest number of plants from the slideshow wins. By this means I hope to find out myself what a couple them are. Devious, eh?
Torch Lake Views 
P.j. grath
July 31, 2011
Common milkweed, butterflyweed (another milkweed), bee balm (?), goatsbeard (gone to seed), black-eyed Susans, black walnuts, red clover, white clover, daisies, raspberries, dusty miller (???), and what is that poker-like magenta flower? I should know it without looking it up…. Great slide show, Gerry!
Gerry
July 31, 2011
When the first comment came in I realized my mistake. I did not set a time limit – let us say Wednesday evening – and it occurs to me that it works better if I hold all the comments in the
cuequeue until the deadline arrives. OK, so far we have one secret answer. Stay tuned.La Mirada Bob
July 31, 2011
I will take the laptop to Kaiser tomorrow so Bonnie can enter your contest.
Gerry
August 1, 2011
I hope she enjoys visiting the meadow anyway. Bet she beats you at dominos too.
Heather
August 1, 2011
I wait with baited breath for answers! In the meantime, I love the picture of the thistle-ish (?) flower on a stalk. Hmm. Would do better if I knew the name…
Gerry
August 1, 2011
I am devious. This whole post is just a sneaky way to get people to buy wildflower guides.
Meanwhile, the contest goes slowly. Just two secret answers have arrived so far. You have time to figure out what the thistle-ish (?) flower on a stalk might be!
Isabelle
August 1, 2011
You know how I love your contests, Gerry, this one In English is a real challenge ! Oh well, let’s try 😉
Scabious, Butterfly Milkweed, Passion flower, Dandelion, Rudbeckias, Bromberries, Wavy leaved Thistles, Rough Blazing Star, Wild Bergamot.
Scott Thomas Photography
August 2, 2011
Oh, the things we miss when we whiz by meadows to get from point A to point B. Thank you for stopping and sharing the wonders of this meadow and the song from your youth.
Gerry
August 2, 2011
Wait, wait – I am an old bat but not quite that old! Oh. I see what you mean. Whew. A person misses a lot when she whizzes through a sentence, too.