Micro-Season: “The Frost Stops the Rice Grows” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

We have entered the micro-season of “The Frost Stops the Rice Grows .” To celebrate this season we will learn about how to prepare a paddy for seedlings and then read seasonal haiku by Basho, Issa, Buson, and Reichhold.

Micro-Season: “The Frost Stops the Rice Grows” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

Here’s my response to this week’s prompt…

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Micro-Season: “The First Reeds Grow” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

We have entered the micro-season of “The First Reeds Grow.” This is the first micro-season of the mini-season of Grain Rain. To celebrate this season, we will learn a little about reeds and then read seasonal haiku by Basho, Issa, Buson, and Reichhold.

Micro-Season: “The First Reeds Grow” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

Thanks to Mark’s Naturalist Weekly, I’m also prompted to go exploring for new spring reeds along the lagoon today! Here’s a haiku from a couple years ago…

Micro-Season: “The Rainbow First Appears” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

We have entered the micro-season of “The First Rainbow Appears.” This is the third micro-season of the mini-season of Clear and Bright. To celebrate this season, we will learn a little about rainbows and then read seasonal haiku by Reichhold, Basho, Issa, and Buson.

Micro-Season: “The Rainbow First Appears” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

My response to this week’s prompt….

We gazed out windows
On our nursery bookshelf
the book of rainbows

Micro-Season: “Thunder Raises Its Voice” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

We have entered the micro-season of “Thunder Raises its Voice ” This is the third micro-season of the mini-season of Spring Equinox. To celebrate this season, we will learn about thunderstorms and read some seasonal haiku by Basho, Buson, Issa, and Reichhold.

Micro-Season: “Thunder Raises Its Voice” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

My response to this week’s prompt, inspired by a thunderstorm last night…

flashing light wakes me
thunder rolls over the lake
—turning on my bed—

Spring Under the Cherry Blossoms — Lady Budd

“What a strange thing! to be alive beneath cherry blossoms.” Kobayashi Issa, Poems Kobayashi Issa speaks of the beauty of life and the fragility of existence. The brevity of life and the transient beauty of cherry blossoms compels us to reflect on the briefness of a human life. There is a subtle call to action, […]

Spring Under the Cherry Blossoms — Lady Budd

Sharing Rebecca Budd’s blog post is my response to the Naturalist Weekly’s prompt for this week’s micro and mini season.

https://naturalistweekly.com/2023/03/10/micro-season-the-first-peach-blossoms-2023/

Micro-Season: “Plants Show Their First Buds” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

We have entered the micro-season of “Plants Show Their First Buds”. This is the third micro-season of the mini-season Rain Water. To celebrate this season, we will learn about plant buds and read seasonal haiku by Issa, Basho, and Shiki.

Micro-Season: “Plants Show Their First Buds” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

In response to this week’s the Naturalist Weekly prompt about buds and sprouts, below are two of mine from last year. How many of us know that the terminal buds Mark mentions, such as form on maple trees, actually appear in autumn, survive winter, and await spring to blossom forth? Buds feed some birds throughout the long cold winter months, if such is your climate. I like to think of those tiny nutrient rich buds bundled up and protected, kind of hibernating like many of us during winter, then bursting out in spring.

Micro-Season: “Haze First Covers The Sky” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

We have entered the micro-season of “Haze First Covers the Sky”. This is the second micro-season of the mini-season Rain Water. To celebrate this season, we will learn about haze and read seasonal haiku from Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki.

Micro-Season: “Haze First Covers The Sky” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

In response to Mark’s prompt, I choose fog for its several autumn/winter/spring appearances. Sometimes the precipitation creates frost, sometimes fog, sometimes both. Here’s one from last year:

Frozen dawn, bare trees
hide-and-seek with fog, tardy
school bus grumbles near

https://maryjomalo.wordpress.com/2021/02/08/haiku-11/

Micro-Season: “Fish Rise From The Ice” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

We have entered the micro-season of “Fish Rise From the Ice”. This is the third micro-season of the mini-season First Spring. To celebrate this season, we will learn about how ice melts and then read seasonal haiku by Basho, Kerouac, Issa, and Buson.

Micro-Season: “Fish Rise From The Ice” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

Here are two from last year. Not exactly ice-melting specific but the effects of it. The second one is spaced and punctuated to emphasize the danger of melting ice, especially for this grandmother. 🙂 I’ve included links for the photos which are always a joy to find.

Spring mud aroma
Rust and rot, sour, salty, sweet
Kids’ boots stuck in muck

Wary elders tread

probing pavement with their canes

Spring melt? or black ice!

https://maryjomalo.wordpress.com/2021/03/11/haiku-18/
https://maryjomalo.wordpress.com/2021/03/18/haiku-19/