On Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, a friend took me to Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve for a wildflower hike. She had gone on a docent-led hike here a week ago, and remembered the names of the flowers, so it was wonderful to have her as my guide. I took photos of the wildflowers and jotted down their names and a phrase for my haikus completed when I returned home. According to the brochure's Preserve Description, Pulgas Ridge is a 366-acre site near the city of San Carlos. Since 2008 is a leap year of 366 days, I felt that space & time is in sync with harmony for today's hike. Spring Equinox came on March 20, the Full Moon (Maple Syrup Moon) on March 21, and now Easter— someone from the East— our Sun that gives us light & warmth, but also the Wise Men from the East who bring us wisdom & understanding. So I begin this flower hike contemplating on three wise sages and their words on flowers: Solomon sings (Songs of Solomon II.12): "The flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come." Buddha says in Dhammapada Verse 52: "Like a beautiful flower, brightly colored and scented, even so fruitful is the well-spoken word of one who does practise it." (Matthew, VI.28-29): And Christ's insightful words: "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." I recall Francis Crick's lecture at MIT in the 1970's telling the audience that the genome of a lily is ten times more complex than that of a human's. Afterwords, I told Crick that Christ's remark on the lily's array was indeed prophetic. He thanked me for this insight. Now, I begin this Open Space Preserve hike on Easter Sunday with an open mind and let Nature be my teacher. (Bay Area Hiker; Map) Click on Photos for Enlarged Images
	Sunday, March 23, 2008, 2:40 pm Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve 366-acres in San Mateo County, CA 366 acres on this trail, 366 days in this leap year— space and time in sync.
Sunday, March 23, 2008, 2:43 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Cordelleras Trail: Vinca (Periwinkle) Field of blue vinca— five-petalled stars blooming on Easter Sunday hike.
	Sunday, March 23, 2008, 2:56 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Cordelleras Trail: California Live Oak Gnarling oak branching in all directions— such is the path of our lives.
Sunday, March 23, 2008, 3:05 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Trilliums Three leaves, three petals, Trilliums all in bloom— Song of the Trinity.
	Sunday, March 23, 2008, 3:18 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Hound's Tongue Hound's Tongue with blue flowers blooming and bees flocking for nectar and honey.
Sunday, March 23, 2008, 3:35 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Indian Warriors (Pedicularis densiflora) on deer trail to creek Indian Warriors with leaves like fern and flowers like headdress of braves.
	Sunday, March 23, 2008, 3:42 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Ceanothus aka California Lilac (blue) California Lilacs or Ceanothus bloom in cluster balls of blue.
Sunday, March 23, 2008, 3:50 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Woodrat's Nest The woodrat's nest piled up in the tree, the female's nest is safe on the ground.
	Sunday, March 23, 2008, 3:55 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Shooting Star Shooting Star flowers with seven magenta buds soaring skyward.
Sunday, March 23, 2008, 4:00 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Star Lily Fremont Star Lily— Touch a flower petal and move a distant star!
	Sunday, March 23, 2008, 4:12 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Fat Solomon's Seal Fat Solomon's Seal— Nine green petals with small creamy flowers on top.
Sunday, March 23, 2008, 4:20 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Mission Bells Yellow stamen like a clapper ringing in three Mission Bells.
	Sunday, March 23, 2008, 4:45 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Mule Ears Mule Ears opening like sunflowers listening to Apollo's lyre.
Sunday, March 23, 2008, 4:55 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Vista on Hilltop Mountain vista with Stanford Hoover Tower far in the distance.
	Sunday, March 23, 2008, 5:05 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Pearly Everlasting Tiny pearl clusters in Pearly Everlasting— the Pearl of Great Price.
Sunday, March 23, 2008, 5:25 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail: Bush Poppies Bush poppies singing with open yellow petals drinking the sunshine.
	Sunday, March 23, 2008, 5:45 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Hassler Trail: Blue Bush Lupines Bush Lupines against the expanse of azure sky— blue merging with blue.
Sunday, March 23, 2008, 6:08 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Dick Bishop Trail: Stone Face made with twigs Stone Face smiles at me from his dreams enlivened by artist's magic touch.
	Sunday, March 23, 2008, 6:20 pm Easter hike: Pulgas Ridge, San Carlos Blue Oak Trail: Madronne Tree Hello Madrone Tree— my love at last! I hug you dancing cheek to cheek.

| Top of Page | Gamble Garden | Haikus 2008 | Haikus 2007 | Monet Haikus | Nature Haikus |
| Poems 2007 | Basho on Poetry | Poems Index | Poetry News | CPITS |
| Poetry & Power | Poetry Resources | Books | A-Z Portals | Home |

© Peter Y. Chou, Wisdom Portal P.O. Box 390707, Mountain View, CA 94039 email: (3-28-2008)