Big and Little

Hosta grow in the shade of fir trees 

on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

As the hosta turn yellow and translucent 

in the autumn light, they support a fallen sprig, 

one that had earlier given them shade

from the summer heat.

Ah, I Love the Scent of Chlorine in the Evening

Against the prevailing trend -  below average winter 

temps have invaded from the frozen Canadian tundra, 

these hosta have sprouted in an area nestled 

between the Natatorium and the parking garage.

There, warm air scented by the promising,

if sterile, aroma of chlorine, is vented from the pool,

is perhaps playing a joke on the hosta, 

telling it Spring in this sheltered spot, hidden

from the miserable reality of the evil,

reviled Polar Vortex.

Hosta Preparing for Sleep

Lying cold and wet on the rusty colored mulch, 

the hosta somehow resembles a pair 

of pointy jester shoes. Wilted and nearly

transparent, the broad leaves prepare

for winter's sleep.

Hosta Situation

As the season begins to turn to autumn, 

the hosta browns showing its ribs.

Whether its shade-loving leaves were burned 

by the sun, I don't know,

but it looks as though its edges 

were seared by heat, not cold,

as it turns in on itself,

and bows to the coming frosts.

Purple Strand

As the sun began to dip behind the main entrance

of the Indianapolis Museum of Art,

someone seemed ready to make their entrance;

This strand of purple blooms stood tall 

above their green leaves, like an amethyst necklace 

set off against a dark green gown.

Reservoir

Despite the cooler temperatures this summer, and the abundance 

of rain we received this spring, the area rivers and streams 

are lower than I remember seeing them for many years. 

Ducks and geese are standing on islands where before they 

would have been paddling. The recent showershave not been 

sufficient to restore the moisture to the parched lands. 

Hosta that have been in the sun are now baked and sere, their

leaves and stalks are pale gold on the ground.

Those in more shaded areas have taken every drop their

leaves could catch, dropped them into creased leaves

on their way to nourish the roots below.

Sometimes, a tiny reservoir had been created, leaving

a sip of water for a bird, or even a passing ant.

Textured Tuesday: Hosta

There are hosta of various species planted all around 

the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

This one, whose name I do not recall,

has acquired an artistic temperment all its own,

looking as though it'd grown up to be

in an Edward Weston photograph.

All its ribs and curves reminded me of

Weston's studies of green peppers.

These pictures make me wish I'd spent 

more time playing with it, watching for 

more expressive lines as the shadows changed, 

emphasizing the plants' beautiful curves.

And here is a third in the series of benches 

designed by the Danish artist, Jeppe Hein, and placed 

at various sites around the 100 Acres lake.

There are fifteen benches in the series,

of which I saw five.