Passing Beauty

The calendar turns quickly - winter into spring into summer into fall - and it's easy to miss some of the delicate beauty around us.

The flame-like Colombine likes the shade found under trees in the woods, so it will be difficult to spot at 55 miles an hour.

A close examination reveals a delicate intricacy of precision with the right balance of color and beauty.

Lilacs are a bit more out-front, seen in our lawns and city parks; their bushy bouquets of purple or white flowers look almost like a fantastical ice cream cone or county fair serving of cotton candy.

The cold winter pushed their usual Mother's Day debut back several weeks around here and already its colors are starting to fade and drop away.

As each blossom drops others take its place - adding another color from nature's palette.

Those flowering trees and plants in the backyard and garden are worth a look, but be sure to get out into whatever natural corner of the world is near you to check out some of that unexamined wild beauty.  Take a camera, take notes, imprint it in your brain - because while it may only be early June the joyous color of today turns into monochrome again soon enough.