Helios! Where Are You?

This morning, I could tell Helios had hitched up his team to the chariot...

Grey interrupted.

Then, his golden chariot slipped behind the grey.

About a week ago, after many grey days, Jeanenne walked into the kitchen, parted the curtains, and exclaimed, "Look, a grey day!" Today is another one. We plotted days ahead of a predicted break in cloud cover to go to Longwood Gardens and carried out the plan...

I didn't even attempt to record the sumptuousness of the never-ending varieties cultivated for this annual show set in acres of glass housing. I marvel at the coming together of plant and humanity to happen over these few weeks. And, the legacies of great industrialists--in this case Pierre duPont. Our latter-day squabbles over jobs, industry, wealth seem in some odd way, antiquated. Robber barons, exploitation, poverty off-set, sometimes, by legacies of philanthropy. We are such an odd species.

For obvious reasons--who wants a cold or flu along with healing from lung surgery--I am staying away from winter crowds and that is why an uncrowded Longwood Gardens visit seemed a good bet for an outing with Jeanenne before she soon must return to her own life. She will have been with me for almost a month and all of it has been the greatest help, love, and support that I could imagine. Hand in hand with that are the contacts and well-wished messages that continue to pour into my life. I am reminded of the many, many appointments that Pennsylvania friends and family have taken me to and are continuing to cover until I am free and clear of this lung thing and/or the ticker doctor says I can climb aboard my pony again.

Longwood has much, much more than orchids...

There is an arid lands room.

Inside, Springtime has already come.

The summer outdoor landscape will be a whole other part to experience another time, later on.

We don't want to forget that Pineapple is Keoni's favourite fruit...