Lucifer sears it’s way through the green formality
dips it’s flaming fronds to ignite the last of the bronze
hemerocallis, nods to the waving purple of
verbena bonariensis and the deeper tones
of clematis scrambling wild and irreverent through
golden euonymus neatness and the gnarled contrast
of an ancient rosemary. Sedums, still pale ice-green
cluster around the Japanese anemone
awaiting inspiration from its bright pop of pink.
Green makes valiant attempt to dominate the space
with spikes and swords of kniphofia, crocosmia
and gladiolus byzantinus, giant ears of
bergenia and the green fingers of peony.
Under cover of all this hyper activity
stubs of sturdy greenness push their way up into daylight
Surely premature, these are muscari, heralds
of next year’s spring, too soon and yet so reassuring.