TREES
Relax into the magnificent presence of trees, fine homes for plants, birds and tiny things, the breath of life for all Nature's creatures and human beings.
Soldier Beetle
An armoured beetle soldiers on,
A force of life in the heat of the sun,
Long and slender with leatherlike wings,
Polllinating flowers in the early spring.
Red Admiral Butterfly
Magnificent butterfly with black velvet wings,
I see your white spotted tips and bright orange bands,
A welcome migrant from northern climes,
A symbol of transformation, joy and happy times.
Honey Bee
Honey scented matico, a magnet for bees,
Bright orange ball flowers attract them with ease,
Bursting with nectar and pollen to please:
A delicious scent on a gentle breeze.
Harlequin Ladybird
Bringer of fortune, innocence and love,
Ladybugs remind us to live life to the full,
A gift to brighten any day,
Transformations with happy resolutions are on their way.
Hover Fly
Hamless hoverfly, gardener's friend,
A suit so glossy with striking bands,
With wings that hover at impossible speeds,
This skilled deceiver mimics bees.
Feeding on aphids, bugs and thrips,
Pollinating flowers where're she goes,
Like a hornet but with larger eyes and lack of sting,
The stunning belted hoverfly is a beautiful thing.
.
Burnet Moth
A red spotted moth found on the dunes,
Resting on a striking Viper's-Bugloss bloom,
Glossy black with six spots on its long, narrow wings,
Slowly fluttering in and around the reeds.
Cotton Thistle
Head down and diving in,
A bee loves nectar rich thistles like these,
They are bright and lucious and sweet as can be,
With fine cotton hairs on their stems and leaves.
Flower Crab Spider
Without a web to catch its food,
The flower crab spider sits and broods,
Laying in wait for an insect, moth or bee,
To land on the flower where they come to feed.
Sleeping Snails
Tiny lemon snail sleeping under a leaf,
Not far from the sea on a sandbar reef;
Tucked up closely to an accommodating friend;
Safe and cosy as the wind blows and the leaves bend.
Gold Ringed Dragonfly
A riverland wonder from the southern glades,
On her way to her breeding place,
Resting to gather warmth in the sun,
Before going on her way.
Fast and angile, sleek and strong,
With stunning markings in black and gold,
Her beauty would be hard to replace,
A living symbol of elegance, happiness, peace and grace.
Busy Bee
A bee can travel ten miles a day to gather food,
Sweet nectar and pollen to feed her brood,
Never a moment's rest for this busy bee,
A joy to hear and a delight to see.
Sacred Snail
Slow to move but steady and true,
Snails know which way to go,
Carrying their home in their spiral shells,
Reminding us to take our time and consider our decisions well.
Daisy Trap
In the light of the sun and the heat of the day,
An invisible flower crab lies in wait,
Ready to pounce on some passing prey,
Any bee or bug that happens to come his way.
Ladybird Bridge
Imagine a ladybird crossing a road,
A hazardous journey if truth be told,
This little one has a better fate,
A nice steady walk on a sturdy gate.
Copper Coloured Beetles
Beetles know the right way to go,
Come rain or shine or sleet or snow,
They come to caution us from making haste,
To remind us to take the time we need or wait.
It's easy to overlook the little things,
The wisdom they share and the comfort they bring,
Beetles remind us that patience is good,
Be sure to look out for them out in the woods.
Water's Edge
A gorgeous walk by the river,
The sound of birds singing, leaves rustling,
Earth soft and air gently blowing,
A place of magic, positively glowing.
Ancient Wonder
The age, the vibrancy, the coppicing,
The life, the growth, the leaves fluttering,
The beauty of an ancient tree, still growing,
A cosy home for birds and wildlife, Nature's knowing.
Tree Canopies
A heavenly walk in an Autumn lane,
On a day that feels more like Spring,
With rustic browns and vibrant greens,
Ambient temperatures and brisk winds.
Green Leaves
Enjoying the last of the Summer leaves,
Gorgeous canopies in vibrant greens,
Soon to turn before Autumn sets in,
With her red and copper and golden leaves.
Morning Light
Few things compare to the morning light,
With the sun low in the sky, brilliant white,
Capturing trees and mosses, gold and bright,
In an ancient pocket of woodland, an explorer's delight.
.
Tree Bliss
What bliss is this, to walk among the trees,
To listen to the woodland sounds, to feel at ease,
When Nature gently caters for all our needs,
In a showcase of ferns, mosses, trailing ivy and leaves.
Ancient Tree
Ancient woodlands, magical places,
As sunshine casts a glow on surfaces,
Old trunks, bark and fungi traced in silver,
Light and shadow, green leaves and trailing ivy.
Tall Tree
Magnificent and wise, sturdy and strong,
A leafy canopy with far-reaching branches spreading out to the light,
Treasured home for animals, birds and wildlife,
An intricate ecosystem, a beautiful sight.
Filigree of Trees
I love the patterns of filigree trees,
Grand and beautiful, with or without leaves,
Perfectly balanced, yet wild and free,
Protecting us and our Earth so magnificently.
A Sacred Place
A sacred place with ancient trees,
Soft padded ground, layered with leaves,
Old stone edges once home or retreat,
Where spirits fly and Nature's creatures meet.
Ancient Hedgerow
Ancient hedgerow, entanglement of life's creation,
A mosaic of tall ferns, creeping ivy and leaves dancing,
A cool oasis under the trees, delightful,
Where Nature thrives in a scene of pure magic.
Tree Bathing
Walking through woodland along the fields,
Dappled light dancing on path edges, beautiful trees,
Festooned with trailing ivy and leaves,
Bringing colour and shade, and a pure sense of ease.
Tree Enchantment
Trees paint enchanting patterns in the sky,
With energy that pulses deep and never dies,
Branches, balanced, as one breaks another one grows,
Trees, worth infinitely more than gold.
Precious Places
Our natural world is precious, as are our woodlands,
Too treasured to be lost to a few rich hands,
Those who steal from us will never understand the spiritual connection,
Upon which our hearts and minds and souls depend.
In Praise of Trees
In praise of trees, magnificent and strong,
Drawing water, food and energy from the ground,
Fine homes for plants, birds and tiny things,
A breath of life for animals and human beings
back to the top
