by
Jean Hughes
May 29, 1995

Whether a field is mowed or left unmowed determines which birds will nest there the following spring. For two years, we did not mow our north fields and no meadowlarks came. Last fall the fields were mowed, and now there are more golden-throated meadowlarks than can be counted.

As a bonus, bobolinks have also come. They sing constantly and circle over the fields, singing as though to get every ounce of their joy into the air. There are so many of these birds spiraling slowly around through the air that it is like a winging, singing ballet. I am the total audience for this extravaganza.

This afternoon, I walk along a path where golden Alexanders bloom. The woods is dressed in remnants of the morning's rain. Droplets glimmer on the leaves and on the ferns, and on the open blossoms.

I have three children with me, who have just gotten out of school for the summer. They are wild from being pent-up so long. Slowly, they emerge into the spring world, like butterflies coming out of their cocoons. They are like young birds in the nest -- noisy and always hungry.

When we return home, a Baltimore oriole, now called a northern oriole, is singing in my dooryard tree. He gives his whole life to his song. His music has slight melodic variations that can be heard only when he is very near.

The more I learn about the birds, the more I know I don't know, but that is not true of their natural beauty. It grows within me day by day, and is forever mine.

In a bowl, combine: 1 head cauliflower, broken into florets
and thinly sliced, 1 chopped green or red bell pepper, 1/2
cup chopped sweet onion and 4 oz. shredded cheddar
cheese.
Mix in: 1 cup Miracle Whip and 1/4 cup Kraft Bacon and
Tomato Dressing.
Chill 4 hours. Serves 6.

The hills are so covered with spring beauties, now, that I can hardly find a placeŠ to step. Hepaticas are almost ready to bloom and the first tall trillium blossoms are open. Bloodroots and isopyrum are mixed in with the small blue and purple flowers of thyme-leaved speedwells and dead nettles.

Along the roadsides, purple violets and golden dandelions clump together into small bouquets. This color combination is nature's practice for the autumn, when tall purple ironweeds and goldenrods bloom in wild gardens that need no care from man. God must love all the wildflowers, because He tends them Himself.

Summer tanagers and scarlet tanagers are nesting in nearby trees. Today, a male and two female rose-breasted grosbeaks came to my feeder table. The rose colorŠ on these birds has the same hue as the blossom of a Deptford pink -- my favorite wildflower.

       There is a sound in flowers and wings of birds,
       In sunsets and the twilight's somber hue.
       To hear it I must enter beauty's quiet.
       I take your hand and walk there now with you.
       We do not speak -- don't break the sound of color.
       That subtle sound that's hidden from the rest.
       We hear it in the eyes of one another.
       We nod together -- silence is the best.

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