The last rose of summer
Competes with the red maple
August’s farewell
Haiku
Leona J. Atkinson 08-31-13
Such a perfect day
Enjoying it on my deck
Then it starts to rain
The perfect day ends with me
Not having to water deck flowers
Tanka
Leona J. Atkinson
08-26-13
Tiny little flowers
In white, pink and blue
How could anyone
Ever forget you?
For you surely are significant
Your beauty’s not obscure
In my garden you are welcomed
Even though you’re miniature
For size doesn’t designate
A flowers sense of worth
As often it’s the little things
That are most regarded on this earth
Therefore you need not worry
As you grow in my garden plots
For I will always remember you
My little Forget-Me-Nots
Leona J. Atkinson 05-31-13
Upon taking a morning walk in May,
a bright splash of color enters my day.
It’s Marigolds growing in a patch,
their colors so vivid, nothing can match
the splendor the sunshine brings to each bloom.
I pause so my eyes can consume
the the sea of colors, orange, yellow, scarlet and gold!
What a morning treasure–a sight to behold!
Leona J. Atkinson
05-22-13
Lilac! The sight of you is like the visit of an old friend.
Your fragrance brings back fond memories of childhood
days in May when you bloomed in my front yard.
We children would run and play while enjoying the scent
you surrounded us with.
Mother would let us pick bouquets of you to grace our table and
to share with neighbors who were not as fortunate to own a bush such as you.
Lilac, I loved you as a child,
and I still enjoy your purple splendor in my yard
and upon my table in May.
Leona J. Atkinson
05-19-13
Little yellow blossoms,
Often picked without much stem,
By little hands seeking flowers for Mother.
Children love you.
To them you are beautiful, and you’re free!
They can gather you and make crowns,
And chains, and rub you under their chins to see if they like butter.
How fun! I smile at the thought.
Gardeners and grown ups don’t like you much,
but on this Mother’s Day,
I wonder how many of you
Became yellow bouquets of love,
Gracing Mom’s dining room table,
Along with a homemade card.
Dandelions, I think God created you just for children.
Leona J. Atkinson 05-12-13
Perky Little Petunia,
Here you are once again,
Blooming so prettily
in that silver can.
You gave us your beauty,
so many days last year.
Never again did I expect to see you,
Yet after winter you did appear.
Your hardiness has earned you,
a special focal spot
in my Spring garden,
for an Annual you are not!
(Written for Laura Jae’s little Petunia plant
who lived through the winter to bloom again this Spring!)
Leona J. Atkinson 05-10-13
You look like a wild strawberry blossom,
but your waxy green leaves negate that.
So I wonder who you are little wonder of white?
You are such a beautiful ground covering mat
growing so free, your name I’d like to know.
Were it not Spring I would think you were snow.
Leona J. Atkinson
05-05-13