The wayside in June is full of unexpected colors. You may walk or drive past something beautiful for several days before the sun sits upon it in a manner that catches your attention. The bright pink chives, shown above, stand out in the sunshine as they grow in the grey gravel. How they managed to thrive on the side of a busy road is a mystery.
Lupins are not an uncommon sight along the roadsides in Nova Scotia. Yet every June, they bring delight to drivers and walkers alike. Whether they’re growing on the side of a ditch or next to a trail, their pink and purple hues are a welcome sight.
One doesn’t usually expect to see roses growing in eel grass along a rocky shore. Like life, beauty manages to find a way.
Hidden in the shade, a profusion of wild violets bloom with abandon near a forest trail. To see so many in one spot is a wonder.
The delicate lady slippers one finds while out romping in the woods don’t bring half the joy of the single one found growing unexpectedly next to a path in one’s own yard. Lady slippers don’t take well to being transplanted, and so will only grow where they want to grow.
In the early morning light, burgundy colored brush appears to be ablaze against the cool June greens of the marsh grass.
Often it’s the meals that we don’t cook that give us the greatest pleasure. Similarly, it’s the plants that we don’t grow ourselves but suddenly appear on the landscape, without any expectation on our part, that bring us the greatest delight. In both instances, the element of surprise seems to be a key ingredient to finding enjoyment in the everyday.
Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.
~ Samuel Johnson
Hello. How lovely to have Lupins growing wild – I’ve only seen then in gardens here in the UK. I love the pink chive flowers and violets too 🙂
Suzanne, although some people do grow them in their gardens, they are seen in greatest abundance along the wayside here. Thank you for visiting.
A pretty, pretty post! Especially as we’re about twelve shades of green, all of them dripping, no pink or purple in sight. I’m looking forward to the surprises that will surely appear when the sun comes out!
Gerry, all that green is lovely too. Everything looks so lush at this time of year.
Have you ever read/seen the kid’s book about lupines? My kids and I always called it the “Lupine Lady” but I think the real name is something about Mrs. Rumpheus?!? Maybe p.j. will know – it’s a delightful book and my daughter still talks about it! Even mentioned it the other day as we were enjoying all the waves of lupine UP here.
Cindy, yes I do recall reading that book years ago to my kids. Lupine seeds are often sold here in tourist shops, as is that book.
Your photo of the colorful grasses is so beautiful. It reminds me of some bunches of grass I saw yesterday by the lake and was wishing I had my camera!
And I just read a post someplace else with lady slipper photos. I’ll have to go into the woods and see if I can find any here.
Millhill, the photo of those grasses was my favorite. I loved the combination of colors. Hope you managed to find some lady slippers.
Love the last pic with those marvellous red bushes …
The lupins are everywhere in such profusion. A real surprise to this “immigrant” from Ontario.
Sybil, the red bushes are still blazing at Rainbow Haven. I wonder if they’ll change color over the summer.
The lupins are especially abundant this year, especially near your neck of the woods on Caldwell Road.
Aren’t the colors lovely this time of year? Our lupines are everywhere too, up and down the road. Purple, pink, white! Gorgeous…
Kathy, I read somewhere that the purple lupines become dominant over time. This year there seem to be a lot more pink ones than usual. They’re all quite beautiful.
Oh, yes, I know the muffin man (do you?) but do not know the lupine lady. I would like to know her. I would love to have lupines growing in my garden or meadow or anywhere they would like to grow near enough for me to see them every day. A friend gave me some seedlings once, but rabbits ate them. Or something. I agree, Amy, that nature’s surprises are wonderful. For me the day before yesterday it was a bluebird. Who knows what it will be today?
All of these photographs are so stunning that I can’t pick a favorite!
Pamela, yes I know the muffin man. He lives in Drury Lane. You’re right: Nature is full of surprises. Each one restores our sense of wonder which is so important especially as we grow older.
“Like life, beauty manages to find a way.” So true, and what I really enjoyed about the post was the insistence upon surprise being an essential component of wonder. When we become aware of the things around us, however small,the world of possibility opens.
Julian, yes that awareness is key. Yet, you have to let yourself be just a little off guard in order to be delightfully surprised 🙂
Oh, I love those salt-spray roses. They smell fantastic and bloom well into the fall. And I don’t know what that burgundy brush is, but it certainly is gorgeous against all the green, isn’t it? Beautiful.
Waven, those roses smell better than the long stemmed variety. I think it’s the contrast of the burgundy bushes with the green grass that makes it so remarkable.
I also love spotting roadside flowers – it’s amazing how much one actually sees when one gets out of the car and walks around with one’s eyes open and one’s senses alert, don’t you think? (Oh, and of course, one’s camera at the ready! ;-)) I’m so impressed that you know the names of all those flowers… I still have a lot to learn on that score.
Reggie, we miss so much when we drive by at the speed limit. Slowing down has its benefits.
I still don’t know the name of that burgundy brush. I’ll have to ask the seagulls.
“it’s the plants that we don’t grow ourselves but suddenly appear on the landscape, without any expectation on our part, that bring us the greatest delight.”
Those are my favorite kinds! Just catching up on your last few posts that I missed. Beautiful words and pictures, as always.
Thanks Grace. The best thing about those plants is that we don’t have to water them. They seem to always get just enough rain and sunshine to thrive without our help.