The Lighter Side of JzB

Here you will find photos, poetry, and possibly some light-hearted foolishness. For the Heavier Side
of JzB see my other blog, Retirement Blues. (There be dragons!)

I claim copyright and reserve all rights for my original material of every type and genre.


Every day visits*
From Moose, Goose, and Orb Weaver
All seized by Haiku

"Why moose and goose?" you may ask. Back on 2/04/13 Pirate wrote a haiku with an elk in it, and I responded with
one with a moose and then included him every day. A few days later in comments Mystic asked "Where's the goose?"
So I started including her with this post on 2/07. A week later on the 14th, Mark Readfern
asked for and received a spider. The rest is history.

*Well, most days, anyway. Grant me a bit of poetic license.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Carpe Diem #75 Early Plum Blossoms

I wrote one of my haiku, then went in search of information on plums.  Backwards, I know, but don't be surprised when I do things that way.  Michigan is the number 4 state in U.S. plum production, and mostly grows European rather than earlier ripening Japanese plum varieties.  What I already knew was that the Winter of 2011-12 was especially mild, and led to an early Spring, followed by a disastrous late frost.  Plums in the state blossomed in March.  Apples, peaches, pears and cherries also blossomed early and these crops were all severely damaged by one night of late Spring frost.

For my haikus, I have interpreted the word "blossoms" first as a verb, then as a noun.

I searched in vain for a picture of a Michigan plum blossom, and finally settled for this one, from Japan.  The lonely blossom seems fitting.   Also some plum haiku at the source.





Early Plum Blossoms

I
Early plum blossoms
Too soon, then is ravaged by
Harsh Michigan frost

~  ~  ~

II
Early bird gets the
Worm; Early plum blossoms are
Nipped by late Spring frost


Carpe Diem # 75
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8 comments:

  1. ChèvrefeuilleDecember 20, 2012 at 4:27 PM

    I like both of your haiku. They're really beautiful JzB. Thank you for participating in Carpe Diem.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 20, 2012 at 6:30 PM

    Thank you for the haiku and the explanation. They are all a joy to read :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. DulcinaDecember 20, 2012 at 7:38 PM

    Interesting information about that terrible frost, poor plum blossoms!
    I like the use you have made of the famous early bird... in this prompt and then the storm nipping the flowers. Sometimes it's better to go on sleeping to avoid damage.
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. WabiSabiDecember 20, 2012 at 7:49 PM

    Darn those spring frosts! Lovely haiku and back round info very helpful! thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. carol l mckennaDecember 20, 2012 at 8:00 PM

    Very humorous in a way ~ fun haiku ~ lovely photo ~

    (A Creative Harbor ~ aka ~ ArtMuseDog and Carol ^_^)

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousDecember 21, 2012 at 12:27 PM

    It is a shame to wait all year for those plums - and have them destroyed overnight!! Our taste buds must wait another year ... plus an unpleasant demise for the farmers counting on the crop. Thank you for sharing.
    Plum Blossoms

    ReplyDelete
  7. brudbergDecember 21, 2012 at 4:05 PM

    Very nice and good explanation, me too I expect the frost to be damaging to the plum bloom.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sadia KhanDecember 22, 2012 at 12:05 AM

    Good one ...though bad n sad for the early plum blossom..:)

    ReplyDelete

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JzB

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