From a distance, the mountain laurel doesn’t look like much this year. But up close, the blooms and star-like buds are exquisite.
Nineteenth century author Louisa May Alcott, in her poem Mountain–Laurel, called the blossoms her “bonnie flower.”
Mountain–Laurel
A poem by Louisa May Alcott
My bonnie flower, with truest joy
Thy welcome face I see,
The world grows brighter to my eyes,
And summer comes with thee.
My solitude now finds a friend,
And after each hard day,
I in my mountain garden walk,
To rest, or sing, or pray.All down the rocky slope is spread
Thy veil of rosy snow,
And in the valley by the brook,
Thy deeper blossoms grow.
The barren wilderness grows fair,
Such beauty dost thou give;
And human eyes and Nature’s heart
Rejoice that thou dost live.Each year I wait thy coming, dear,
Each year I love thee more,
For life grows hard, and much I need
Thy honey for my store.
So, like a hungry bee, I sip
Sweet lessons from thy cup,
And sitting at a flower’s feet,
My soul learns to look up.No laurels shall I ever win,
No splendid blossoms bear,
But gratefully receive and use
God’s blessed sun and air;
And, blooming where my lot is cast,
Grow happy and content,
Making some barren spot more fair,
For a humble life well spent.
Unexpected in common hours 
umbrella flowers ….lovely post
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Thank you. They do look like umbrellas!
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Exquisite little things.
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Yes, aren’t they? Thank you!
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Those are gorgeous! Our Texas mountain laurel is so different – it has long sprays of purple sweetpea-looking blossoms. These white blossoms and buds might show up in one of my quilts some day.
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Would love to see these in a quilt! I guess Louisa May Alcott’s mountain laurel in Massachusetts would have been different as well.
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Absolutely gorgeous, Deb. (Look closely. Be mindful.) Peace, John
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Thank you, John. I do need to remember to be mindful, especially lately. Cheers, Deb
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Glorious!
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Thank you!
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Such a beautiful poem from one of my absolute favorite authors!! Thanks for sharing, as I don’t believe I had ever read this piece of poetry before. Plus… your photos are beautiful!
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Thank you so much! I do enjoy finding poems or quotes to put with my photos.
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Lovely pictures and poem. Thank you.
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Thank you so much! This year our mountain laurel hardly bloomed at all.
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