The last few days have been rough for me. I’ve been battling a bad cold and falling behind on everything I need to get done. In fun news, I’ve gotten to hear the owlet sing (or make sounds anyway) over several nights, and it’s strong enough to reach the tree tops now.

I’ve been outside very little but wandered in the garden for a bit earlier today. The scent of gardenias wafts into the house most mornings. The hydrangeas are lovelier and more abundant than in recent summers. And plenty of other garden beauties beg for admiration.

A fragrant gardenia

Lilies are blooming, too.

Hydrangeas!

Look closely at the flowers, within flowers, within flowers that make up hydrangeas. (If you look close enough, you may also see a critter visiting this particular hydrangea.)

A Jerusalem sage, with evidence it has its own animal friend

This last week has also been hard because of the news of our country’s leaders showing—I don’t know what to call it—ignorance, hubris, greed, all of the above?

I know there’s a battle between religion and science that stretches back through the ages, but I do not understand why both cannot see the need for and value in the other. And I do not understand why so many in our country, including too many who are in powerful positions, do not want to listen to scientists who have spent their lives studying the health of our planet. We listen to doctors about the health of our bodies. Why not listen to those who have dedicated their lives to studying the earth?

Emily Dickinson has an interesting take on this idea of faith versus science:

Faith is a fine invention
For Gentlemen who see –
But Microscopes are prudent
In an Emergency!

I included the flowers in today’s post because each one has some element I’d love to examine and understand more closely. It’s no emergency, but a microscope could make things interesting, and perhaps a little clearer.

I hope you are all well, and I hope that—microscope or no—you have flowers to admire during your daily wanderings.