Flora

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As the heat of summer
Stretches on
(Even now into September),
I’ve been thinking quite a lot
About afternoons in the 
Southwest corner of our
Old back yard -
Dappled light falling from the elm,
A glowing patch of coneflower
Growing crazy alongside the shed.
What can I say?
Living exposed on the prairie
Has made me miss shade.
Made me miss cool grass underfoot and
Flowers bobbing in the wind.

Sometimes it’s hard to remember
Who exactly planted those
Late-summer blooms
In that untended corner,
Because in my memory they
Were always there -
But it was me that placed them
In the earth and watered them
And tended them
So they could gift me in return
A little inspiration
At the end of a season that
Tends to wear me thin.

It’s just another reminder that
All good things start with a seed,
Or a tiny shoot, or a hopeful heart -
Here, too, I’ll someday have a patch
Of friendly petaled faces
To carry me through to
Autumn.
.
.
.
Drawing on memory and nostalgia and a whole lot of future-dreaming, I’ve built a literal handful of rings to share with you. Emerald Valley turquoise stones, in blissfully cool shades of green-blue, have been wrapped in 14k gold bezels and set atop sturdy sterling bands with whimsical coneflower cutouts lovingly placed on the sides. A little 14k seed sits at the base of each flower as a reminder that you can ALWAYS be the start to something new and beautiful.

From top to bottom, left to right in this final photo, the rings will best fit sizes 7.5, 7, 6.5, 9, and 8. I’ll have them up in the shop sometime this weekend (and send an email reminder before they arrive). Stay cool friends - Fall is just around the corner!!