STRAWBERRY MOON FOREVER

 "Tell me the story about how the sun loved the moon so much, that she died every night, just to let him breathe..." -Hanako Ishii

 June 5th, 2020. Prenumbral Lunar eclipse across the Moon.I really didn't see much of an eclipse. Maybe a slight shadow.

 The earth, ever so slightly grazed across the edge of the moon. At least, I think it did.

 Called a Strawberry Moon, because it comes at the time of strawberry harvests.

 Years ago, farmers would use the moon to tell when their crops of strawberries would be ripe.

"All shadows of clouds the sun cannot hide like the moon cannot stop oceanic tide: but a hidden star can still be smiling at night's black spell on darkness, beguiling...." -Munia Khan

 In medieval times the strawberry symbolized purity and  noble spirit and soul.

 In parts of Europe this Supermoon has been called the Rose Moon when roses bloom in June. 

 When it's seen closer to the horizon. It might look a tad reddish, or pink.

"Tonight when the stars come out and the moon rises in the velvet sky, look outside your window, then raise your hand and position your fingers around the disk of light..."

-Vera Nazarian

 Also known as the Honey Moon and Mead Moon,  this Supermoon coincides with Vat Purnima( Hindus), and Poson Poya (Commemorates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in 236 BCE)

 In the fall there will be three more Supermoons, Sept 17 Oct 16 and Nov 15, 2020

 Gives us three more chances this year to HOWL  at the moon.........

 "Out of sight above the house, the mirror reflected the sun of a  day not dawned, shining the pale light of tomorrow on the yard and the paper birches..." -Dean Koontz ( Breathless) 
                                  
 Photographs 2020

GARDEN WHEN.....

 "In a garden, the world is resting without sound or motion....." 
                                                  -Sara Teasdale

 I've been in so many gardens. 

 A garden with an ancient plum tree that could tell countless tales

 A place for a little shy cat in which to rest.

 Hidden places. Giant Perennial Sweet Peas that just grow with abandon.

 Cosmos that thrives without any assistance.

 Roses that bloom without being asked.

 "Behind the Great tree the world went down, painting with fire...."                                                            -Sara Teasdale

 Everything grows in giant form these days.

 Even moss

"Into the garden Peace comes back with twilight...." -Sara Teasdale

 And the White Cat.

 Sits with the roses.

 Even the Cat Plant. It purrs as it roots itself....

"Spring itself woke at dawn..." -Sara Teasdale

 And I am reminded........

 Of a simple garden . Years ago. Of Sweet Peas rising up. to peek in windows. In the house I grew up.

1980

 And how the years went by. And the Sweet Peas grew. Sometimes straight and tall. Sometimes bent.

1984

 And how my mother and I picked with abandon. Those Sweet Peas. That single row. Year after year. Without fail. It was our garden back then....

1978

"The days remember and the nights remember. Wrapped in memories, jewelled and arrayed..."- Sara Teasdale

2020

Photographs 2020

DO FAIRIES LIVE HERE....

 EXCERPTS from "FAIRYLAND" (1913) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

 The walls are of white silver and the roof of shining gold.

 The queen lives in a palace with seven courtyards

 Let me tell you, in a whisper, where my king's palace is.

 At the corner where the tuli plant stands......

 The princess lies sleeping  on the far away shore

 There is none in the world who can find her by myself.

 Bracelets on her arms and pearl drops in her ears

 She will wake when I touch her with my magic wand.

 Jewels will fall from her lips when she smiles

 She is there in the corner

 I sit in the corner where the shadows of the walls meet

 Only the cat is allowed to come with me

 For she knows where the barber in the story lives

 Let me whisper , mother, in your ear where the barber  lives

 It is at the corner of the terrace where the pot of the tulsi plant stands.

 * The story teller is telling an imaginative fairy story about a fairyland that dwells on the terrace by his house. He is telling the story to his mother about how the fairies live in the pots of flowers on the terrace.

 Photographs 2020