Indiana Roadsides

I Indiana Roadsides

by
Jean Hughes
May 1, 1995

The spell of spring is still upon me. It turns to frenzy when the morels pop up. If there is more fun, more complete bliss on this earth than the magic of finding morel mushrooms, don't tell me. I couldn't stand it.

Spring Magic

In Mayapple-spring, when the bluebirds sing,
I cook rhubarb for sass.
And I cut a tree, when I want tea,
And steep some sassafras.
I pick dandelions for a mess of greens
And violets for jam,
And spearmint leaves for jelly that
Bastes the leg of lamb.
After springtime showers, I walk for hours
Out where the bluebells ring.
I'm a hunter bold, stalking morel-gold
That makes my mad heart sing.
On a deep-woods hill, I stand stock still --
Earth weaves on her magic loom.
From beneath the ferns, a dry leaf turns
Into my first mushroom.

* * *

All of us who walk alone in the woods, day after day, come to know the earth and all its creatures as friends. I talk to the birds and flowers. I sing, whistle and hum to them . . . and then I listen for the words that they send into my heart.

The flowers are the playthings of the wind, and for the birds, life is always in motion. Their eggs are rocked by the wind from the moment they are laid in the nest. Even when they are not flying, the birds are living on the wind. Their whole world sways. They are completely airborne--natural wingers, natural swingers.

* * * I love the songs of the hills in May. If you have never heard a hillside sing, stand in a hollow, as I am standing now, and listen to the birdsongs bounce from hillside to hillside. No bird, alone, makes such a song. This is real hill music!

These eggs are good as a relish and are pretty when sliced and added to a salad tray. They also make delicious egg salad sandwiches and may be used in recipes as a substitute for sweet pickles.

Pickled Eggs

In a large glass container, place: 2 dozen hard-cooked, peeled
eggs and 1 pint beets with juice.
Simmer for 20 minutes: 3 cups vinegar, 1 cup water, 2 cups
sugar, 1/4 cup pickling spices and 3 pieces stick cinnamon.
Cool liquid and strain over eggs.
Cover and allow to sit in the refrigerator for 1 week.

I take a walk to check on the flowers and find the woods' floor covered with wild ginger. The hillsides are great bowers of delicate, sweet-smelling wild hyacinths. The shell-like beauty of Virginia waterleaf blossoms mingle with the red flames of thousands of fire pinks.

Fragrant breezes blow through the hills. They penetrate every niche and hollow. It is the locusts -- they are in bloom.

The goldfinches have donned their summer feathers. They look like buttercups on the wing. Their colors are intense today, as are all colors when it is cloudy. Oh! There's a rose-breasted grosbeak!

* * * It is hard to find a lovelier time in the woods than when the redbuds bloom. I walk in the rain to see them. When the rain stops, the earth glistens. As I stand, watching, the sun creeps slowly from behind a cloud and draws the beauty of the redbud blossoms out into the woods-light. All through the hills, I can see big sprays of pink made by these lovely trees.

That there is a natural place within my life for every living thing is made clearer every year that I watch and listen. But there was a labyrinth to walk from head to heart before this knowledge became my own, before I knew there was a spot within myself that makes me clap my hands for life that is other than my own kind. It is the spot where I can sing songs with my wild fellow travelers and they can sing with me.

This spot, where love of nature dwells, is hidden within everyone. It is where every heart may laugh with joy and join the natural music. But the spot can never be found. It must be lived.

Jean's book of ramblings and recipes "A Country Mile of Winter" and her book of poetry "The Earth's My Home" are available for $4.95 each plus $1.30 for postage and handling. Her nature letter "Diary of a Back Yard Naturalist", published 5 times yearly, is available for $12.50 per year. Ten of Jean's favorite recipes will be included free with each book or nature letter ordered. Order from...

Country Mile Publications
616 E. Monroe St.
Delphi, Indiana 46923

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