April's Musings

Saturday, May 21, 2005
“West Palm Beach, Florida
Home and Interior Design Show”


I woke up early on Saturday and walked out of my hotel to the sound of mockingbirds singing proudly in nearby trees, churls and tweets, and toots. A range of trilling and tweeting that was splendid. Cascades of bougainvillea tell me "this is not Vermont, this is Florida." I love the warm air, and the feel of early morning. There are mourning doves cooing, in the morning, boat-tailed grackles, showboating, thick Florida grass, dewy, Royal Palms, coconut palms, short squat palms, pineapple bark, beautiful pink hibiscus, and red hibiscus with blooms as large as saucers. It makes me happy; it feels like the Caymans. There is the same flora and fauna. There are large impatiens framing the walks, and a true indication of the tropics: a march of tiny ants. It seems like forever since I have seen a bug! Summer—please come to Vermont soon!

The mockingbirds perform territorial chases, I make my way to the marsh, I spy a dragonfly (first one this year for me), buttonwood hedges, a soft sage green, sea grape, I love its round leaves. I see a periwinkle bush. Just like the Caymans! The Casuarina (Australian Pine) with its long needles. The marsh is rimmed with grasses, broken shells, sand, I see an Anhinga (in India, we call them the Snake Bird, with their long snake-like necks) loping underwater and fishing. In the reeds the grackles are nesting and mama feeds her giant babies. An American bittern skulks in the grasses, well color-camouflaged; the anhinga spreads his vast wings, hanging them out to dry. My shoes are wet, from both dew and marsh. I make my way back to the hotel. I am replenished from my walk, revived and revitalized with my morning conversation with nature. I feel the sun on me. I am ready to begin another day. Talking about color, and how nature is my guide.

West Palm Beach Home and Interior Design Show here I go!