A Fair Exchange

A Fair Exchange

My favorite plants do not grow here
The soil is not to their liking
So I learn to love new exotic ones
that tolerate the dryness of our winter
and welcome the hot rainy season 
Gone are the pretty blue hydrangeas
and pink hybrid roses tinged with gold
Replaced by bright yellow Allamandas 
and Wedgewood blue Plumbagoes
Strikingly elegant the orange-blue Bird of Paradise
stands tall holding its head high
Instead of sheltering myself under an Oak tree
I now sit in the shade of a Royal Poinciana
Marveling at its shadow-providing beauty
heavily adorned with burnt orange blossoms
The palm trees host varieties of orchids
clinging to the trunks with their outstretched tendrils
Hot sun and heavy rains gift me 
with a stunning technicolor of exotic blooms
A trade I gladly accept
 
 
 
Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved


Claudia Schoenfeld, one of the original founders of D'Verse Poets, is hosting tonight and he has prompted us with 'Gardens or Gardening'.  A favorite pastime of mine.



Image Bird of Paradise Pixabay
Image Royal Poinciana by note thanun on Unsplash
Image Allamanda by DEZALB from Pixabay
Image Plumbago by Ian Lindsay from Pixabay 
Image Butterfly Orchid Wiki 

Published by Christine Bolton

I have been writing poetry since I was a child and it has helped in the good times and bad times. I am always looking within to find the answers to life's problems and to write thought-provoking poetry and prose. Thanks for checking it out. Christine

43 thoughts on “A Fair Exchange

  1. I usually spend my summers overseas in Asia doing missions work and it’s always fascinating to see the difference in the floral and fauna and finding new beauty in the jungles…so different but no less beautiful

    Like

    1. That is something I always appreciate when I travel. Yes different in its uniqueness but always pleasing to the eye no matter where you see it. I love it when I see plants in far flung places that also grow here at my home.

      Like

    1. I found your comment in the SPAM box Sherry 😕 Yes! I couldn’t be happier. The flowers here are beautiful like the birds and the weather ☺️🌺

      Like

  2. so nice – and so wise to accept what’s possible and what is not… that is a good metaphor for life as well i think… i try to grow blue hydrangeas as well but had no luck so far

    Like

    1. Thanks Claudia. I loved the prompt! Yes, with Hydrangeas it’s all about the soil 😕

      Like

  3. I love the photos and specially this fair exchange:

    Hot sun and heavy rains gift me
    with a stunning technicolor of exotic blooms

    Our winters here are long and harsh, so I keep some plants potted and warm with a humidifier during the season. How lovely to see all those exotic plants blooming.

    Like

    1. Thank you Grace. Yes, Florida is full of beautiful Native plants and birds. I love it ☺️💕🌺

      Like

  4. Reading your beautiful poem is a reminder of what I left behind in Florida sixteen years ago … today I battle Oregon smoke/stinging eyes/a closed up house … ready for rain … so ready.

    Like

    1. Helen, I am living in Florida, so I understand. It rained a lot yesterday and I thought of everyone out west and what you are contending with. I’m so sorry. All things being normal Oregon must be a pretty place to live, no? ☺️💕🌺

      Like

  5. I love this plant – Bird of Paradise. Climate changes in the UK means that we can grow more exotic plants…but the price tag in terms of global warming maybe too high. We’re not warm enough for this specimen…yet.

    Like

    1. I hadn’t thought of that Bernadette. I remember when I lived there we would buy house plants and do our best to keep them going. Now I live here and the same plant grows like weeds! 😊
      Yes I love the Bird of Paradise too 🥰

      Like

  6. Love the image of those “burnt orange blossoms,” 😀 this is such a heartfelt and beautiful write, Christine! 💝💝

    Like

  7. Hot sun and heavy rains gift me
    with a stunning technicolor of exotic blooms
    A trade I gladly accept

    My, Christine, Hank would love it to be there admiring the many varieties of beautiful colours, exotic in their blessings. You brought it to a beautiful close liking them all even though they took over those that you would have liked to have too! Wonderful descriptions Ma’am!

    Hank

    Like

Comments are closed.