Tonight…

Ah, tonight.

Sitting out in the golden sunset, under a quarter moon in an eggshell sky…a sky worth way more than Emmylou Harris’s ten cent evaluation.

Sitting surrounded by life.

The trumpet vine hedge undulates, a dark and lush shelter fifteen feet in the air. The vines are 20+ years old, contained and restrained, but as yet undefeated. They still promote a network of volunteers 30-40 feet in every direction that have to be corralled every day.

The bank of knockout roses are rolling into their second expression of the season.

The daylilies are roaring their various résumés as they clamor for best-of-the-year honors (the Nefertiti’s are currently leading, but the Bela Lugosi’s have yet to make their play).

Chloe, the Wonder Pup and I sit on the worn bricks of the tiny black lagoon. We’re waiting for Janie to return from her weekly knitting bee at Chez Spence. The frogs occasionally break the water’s surface to see if we’ve gone inside yet. They’re eager to completely emerge and begin their nightly serenade.

We are snugly enclosed by ramparts of holly and bamboo and exuberant ferns.

And now…

…lightnin’ bugs begin their twilight gavotte…

…a pas de drift…

…a doh-see glow.

Chloe asks if I can see Janie yet (insert sigh).

The light finally fades and the pup and I relent and go indoors to give the frogs their chance.

I’m in the library for two minutes and the croaking chorale commences. It’s beautiful, but the Lexington Singers have nothing to fear from this rasping and barking.

And to finally give the noble dog her answer; “No, Chloe, I don’t see her yet.”

June 12, 2024