I have a couple of hours to kill. I need a nap. I was up too late with the kids, then didn't sleep well due to my meds. "Screw any notions of napping" I thought. I want to go outside. I want to go up Bells Canyon. I gear up and head out the door. Casi smiles from the couch as I leave. Happy to have peace, she turns back to her book.
I prefer the access road to the single track trail, due to lack of use. The punishment for this isolation is 4-6 inches of snow. I think of sand as I trudge through the snow. Both snow and sand, have the ability to rob me of my work. A portion of each step. I continue to climb. Step. Slide. Step. Slide. Slowly up the mountain side.
I think of a deer as I followed its footprints in the snow. Then rabbit, mouse... and something, I can not identify. Something, I tell myself, is a bobcat. I don't know for sure.
I think of color as I notice the dusty green of sage, the dark brown hues of Scub Oak, the intense and clear blue sky interspersed with white fluffy clouds, and the intense yellows of Ocher.
I think of Ocher. An element of last years summer, perched on the tips of each plant. Remnants of renewal. Birth. Life. A promise to the next year. Ocher in the form of empty seed pods. I reach out to a sage bush, grab a handful of Ocher, and watch it as it disperses in the wind.
I think of Ocher and its presence in summer. Of "Dead heading". A tedious work, of clipping the Ocher from my plants. I think summer Ocher is ugly. The Ocher of winter however, is beautiful and reminiscent of the flowers, we hope for. That come with spring.
I think of spring.
Update: I have had a few comments regarding the definition of Ocher. So here it is from the Merriam-Webster's online dictionary
Main Entry: ocher
Variant(s): or ochre \ˈō-kər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English oker, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French ocre, from Latinochra, from Greek ōchra, from feminine of ōchros yellow
Date: 14th century
1 : an earthy usually red or yellow and often impure iron ore used as a pigment
2 : the color of ocher; especially : the color of yellow ocher
2 : the color of ocher; especially : the color of yellow ocher
— ocher·ous \ˈō-k(ə-)rəs\ or ochre·ous \ˈō-k(ə-)rəs, -krē-əs\ adjective
Now I know that what I formerly refered to as "dead stuff" has a name. You know soooo much Angie. I'm glad we're friends so I can tap into that knowledge. Thanks for the beautiful foto and kudos to you for noticing the details around you. When I'm struggling up a hill I tend to focus on breathing, and often miss the little surprises. (And sorry about the meds...hope you sleep better tonight.)
ReplyDeleteTink- I thought you may be the first to comment. You and I will always have our love for plants. :) The meds are getting better. I have lowered my dose. We will see in the next 6 weeks if it helps with the MANY side effects I am having. Finding a balance between the side effects and the symptoms, is just part of the struggle of having RA. :) Thanks for stopping by! I love all your comments.
ReplyDeleteWe both share our love of ocher. That is always my favorite part of fall and winter excursions. Especially on sage and most desert varieties. We tend to deadhead in the spring, as bad as that can be. But we love seeing the life that was, an expression of what is to come. We finally broke down last weekend and did the deed, but many of our grasses haven't faced the clippers yet, they are too pretty.
ReplyDeleteI love reading all of your posts, in almost every word you make me feel as if I am there with you and I can sense exactly what you are seeing and feeling. You have such a talent girl, I'm not even sure if your aware of what a good writer and photographer you are! You inspire me in so many ways!
ReplyDeleteI will admit I didn't even know what Ocher was until this post.
Lisa- I love your yard and what you have done with it. I agree Ocher stands out. I also dead head in the spring. Its hard to say no to all that green hidden beneath it. BTW: Its good to leave it there for the winter. Flocks of sparrows and finches will feed on it and it protects your plants during the harsh winter- but you probably know all of this ;)oh, and when your grasses are ready to split I hope I get an offering to put in my yard. (hint- hint)
ReplyDeleteTami- You are a sweat heart. I love that my words can do that for you! BTW: Nate did not know what Ocher was either. So I posted the definition in the blog post. I knew what it was from my artist days. Ocher was one of my favorite colors to paint with. Its everywhere in nature.
What kind of grasses are you looking for? we have a ton of Blue Oat Grass seedlings you could surely have, it is Jed's fave. And I am sure that we could find some Pampas Grass seedlings somewhere. They spread easily but we don't mind digging out the problem ones, they are too pretty when they tassel. We also need to get rid of some of our Strawberry Grass, it takes over an area very easily. But, it adds lovely pink/purple hues to it's variegated leaves.
ReplyDeleteYeah! I will take any you can give me. I have a lot of beds that are empty. I will need to prep them before I plant anything in them. The dirt is very undernourished.
ReplyDeleteI think for now I want to grasses in the front strip and then along the rock wall in the back. Any suggestions on which ones would do well in those places would be helpful. I plan to pull the front strip off of any water once the plants are established so anything I plant there will have to be Xeroscape worthy. I will intersperse them with sage and rabbit brush, and other perennials. The area along the wall will get whatever water ends up there from watering the lawn.
Oh, I do not know what strawberry grass is. Mostly, I want grasses for the birds. Do you see birds utilizing these grasses. They are non-native so I am unsure as to their utility as a food source. This is a long response and a strange place to post it. Strangely, I do not have your e-mail address.
I love your posts. You are a good writer.
ReplyDelete