by
Jean Hughes
June 12, 1995
It is dawn, and I am out watching the morning come. The sunrise is delicate --wispy and shell pink. Occasionally, among the multiflora roses, there is a bush whose flowers have this same delicate hue.

My land is a smorgasbord of beauty and fragrance. Red and yellow clovers bloom underfoot, and rose perfume glides down the cascades of blossoms and explodes softly at my feet.

I love to stick my nose into rosebushs or near clover blossoms. I never pick wildflowers, even when they are abundant. I like them best where they are placed by nature's hand, and where they can live out their full lives. >P> This morning, the air is full of singing chats, verios, warblers, buntings and peewees. A scarlet tanager nests nearby. It sings so sweetly. Meadowlarks call from every corner of the field. I hear the whir of hummingbirds' wings. These little thimblefuls of life must hear the purple petunias calling, "Nectar's ready!"

This has been a luxuriant year, so far. The apple trees in my orchard are laden with marble-sized fruit. The beginnings of clusters of wild grapes are strung through all the trees along my lane. Birds are abundant, too.

As usual, it will be a contest to see who will get to the blackberries and raspberries first. I am happy if I am left enough for a few batches of jam. But if not, I can live without berries, but not without birdsongs.


I prepare this relish by the gallon and keep it handy in the refrigerator. It improves in flavor with each passing day. This is also the recipe I use to make my own Thousand Island dressing.

Calico Relish
Grind coarsely: 1 green and 1 red bell pepper, 1 large onion and
1 large, seeded and peeled cucumber.
In a saucepan, heat to simmering: 1 cup sugar, 1 t. salt and
1/2 cup vinegar. Cool to room temperature.
Pour over vegetables and refrigerate overnight.



Calico Salad Dressing

Mix together and store in the refrigerator: 1/4 cup catsup, 
1/4 cup drained Calico Relish, 1 cup Miracle Whip and 1 chopped, 
hard-cooked egg.
* * *
June has an orange heart. Pale, bright, soft or deep orange swishes from the backs of butterflies, flashes from the breasts of orioles and robins, spills from the petals of lilies, colors the wild plums and gathers in a big ball, at dawn and dusk, to hang alone, against skies as blue as a bluebird's wing.

I walk into the wildness of every day as a member of the human race, and I find I am in good company. There is a bond that has threaded its way from the first human who saw the beauty of our planet, down to today. It is the longest and strongest bond on earth. It requires neither formal education nor words. Each person must link to it for himself.


I have spent most of this week in my strawberry patch -- in strawberry heaven. There has been a cool breeze, a warm sun, low humidity and the scent of ripe berries to soothe my aching back, as I pick and pick.

I come away from the patch every day with stained clothes, stained hands and a tell-tale stained tongue. If it is true that I am what I eat, don't be surprised to see a five-foot strawberry strolling down my country road.

* * *
This evening a pink twilight sheds its radiance over every living thing. It is like looking at the earth through rose-colored glasses. When the twilight is spent, and the dark comes, I walk in the soft-as-silk moonlight. Rose perfume wanders through the hills. 

           The Lover

        June is a sweet perfume.
        June is serene.
        June is a melody
        Played on lush green.
        June is a lullaby
        Sung as spring closes.
        June is a sweet perfume --
        Lover of roses.
Copyright 1995, Jean Hughes.

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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