The japonica bush in my garden came into full bloom last week. I had brought in some twigs and evergreens to make arrangements to replace Christmas in the house. The twigs blossomed almost overnight, coral blossoms on gray stems. What a treat in mid-January! I put some in a silver ice bucket in front of the picture window in the kitchen, and more in the log room, in the west window. One thing my mother taught me is that real flowers do more for the heart than silk, and even winter greens beat the man-made fake blossoms lining the aisles at dollar stores.
I wrote this poem after my twigs came into bloom. A few days later, the whole bush was in bloom outside, an incredible sight in the gray of winter. Unfortunately, I was not able to take any photos because I leave too early and come home to late to have enough light for that. But I saw the flowers, and that was enough.
Even though the cinnamon vine covers it in summer, that bush will stay as long as it likes. What other garden plant has half the nerve of this old-timer?
“Sometimes Blooms in Winter”
--plant nursery catalog
Sweet japonica’s twisted stems
Yield soft rose blossoms
In the deep of January gloom
An unexpected Japanese painting
On my country kitchen windowsill
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