Posted on by Jessica Dofflemyer

Yielding

2015-05-27_petals

 

Less than perfect, I love the weather-worn fringe of this flower’s petals.

So often we notice the glorified blossoms radiating ideal beauty- pristine, fresh, and newly opened.

But this flower’s on the fade. Its frayed edges tell the tale of life with the elements. Shining through sun, welcoming water, weathering the wind.

Arcing through its lifespan story, this Calendula is easing into the final chapter: resolution.

Destination, compost. Back to the earth.

Seasoned. Surrendered. Simply beautiful.

Posted on by Jessica Dofflemyer

Nearly Alien

A morning walk through the noni orchard in our front yard reveals nature at work. Busy bees are happily partaking of the riches produced by this nearly alien fruit.

2015-05-26_noni flowering

So strange in its formation. So potent in its ripened form. Some liken the taste and smell to aged blue cheese and can barely swallow it down. The Bohemian, however, he can bite into it with pleasure, like a pear.

2015-05-26_noni in leaves

A cosmic cure-all, originally brought on canoes to Hawaii by the Polynesians. Noni can aid in everything from diabetes to skin infections. I’ve seen it stop a child’s tears from a wasp sting in less than 60 seconds.

2015-05-26_bee on noni

At our abode, we are surrounded by these hardy trees, still learning of the magic of its medicine.

2015-05-26_ripe noni fruit

Posted on by Jessica Dofflemyer

Mystery Tree

Last year the Bohemian and I were gifted a mystery plumeria tree. Meaning that the farmer offering it to us didn’t know what kind of plumeria it was.

These signature Hawaiian trees offer up traditional lei flowers that can run a spectrum of colors, from white, to pink, to a dark maroon.

We were fine with the unknown. The Bohemian and I dug a huge hole, adding rich compost and Spirulina powder. We pulled some wedding remnants out of the closet, too. The dried remains of the ti leaf lei the Bohemian wore, and the circle of chocolate orchid blooms that was my bridal crown. We put these mementos just below the roots of the plumeria, filled in the hole, and watered.

We’ve been watching its steady progress over the last year, and it’s doing well. This week, the Bohemian spotted signs of its first flower buds.

The mystery is about to be revealed.

If all unfolds as it naturally should, we’ll know soon the color of its blooms.

2015-05-25_plumeria buds