Sunflowers and a Cloudy Day

Sunflower Field

Sunflower Field ©2013 Bo Mackison

“Light-enchanted sunflower, thou
Who gazest ever true and tender
On the sun’s revolving splendour.”
~ Pedro Calderon de la Barca

A sunflower field in the shadows of an overcast sky, and still the sunflowers follow the arc of the light, turning their heads towards the brightest spot in the sky. No matter how dim the light, the sunflowers are guided by the light. By the life-giving qualities of the light.

They stand, side by side, on a hillside in the Wisconsin countryside. I stand next to the field the flowers, observing their minute, geometric details, and they stand two feet taller than me.

They stand,  overlooking a neighboring farm, overlooking the city of Madison, overlooking Lake Mendota. On a clear day, the sunflowers  overlook the State Capitol and the current political happenings. And they follow the light, follow the sun.

Stand together, and focus on the light.

A good lesson for all of us.

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Bo Mackison is artist, photographer, book-maker, collector of stories, naturalist, poet, curator and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC.  She believes nature offers huge opportunities in learning, and life offers a huge opportunity for growth.

Painted Sunrise

Painted Sunrise over Pope Farms

Sunrise over Pope Farms © 2007

“What breaks in daybreak? Is it the night? Is it the sun, cracked in two by the horizon like an egg, spilling out light?”
~ Margaret Atwood

Pope Farms in Madison, Wisconsin

Stone Wall and Tree

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Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. ~John Muir

This 120 year old stone fence is a boundary of Pope Farms, 5 miles west of Madison, Wisconsin. Photographed in early October, 2007.

barbara © 2007

Sunrise in October

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October sunrise
Silhouettes of withered weeds
Earth’s cycling seasons

Sunrise taken at Pope Farm, 5 miles west of Madison, Wisconsin