BY LESLIE REGO
Here I am sitting in a meadow at mile marker 145 on Highway 75 north, waiting for the sun to come up and over the mountains to see the white mule’s ear (Wyethia helianthoides) alit with the morning light.
Mule’s ear grows in open sunny meadows with moist soil due to the winter snowmelt. Generally, there is a river nearby, adding to the moisture. Driving north, it was easy to find a field of mule’s ears because the leaves, a deep waxy green, are so recognizable. They are large in comparison to the flower. From the road, a meadow of mule’s ear would appear to be mostly leaves, as their size and shape tend to partially block the view of the flower.
When I arrived at the meadow, there was a large group of Canada geese that had hunkered down amongst the flowers during the night. All of their long necks appeared over the tops of the leaves and turned toward me, startled by whom had arrived to disturb their rest.
I sat quietly, waiting for the light, sketching a bit. The geese slowly began to waddle away, pecking at the ground as they went.
The sun came up and over the mountains on the opposite side of the highway, slowly making its way down the slopes and across the road. As the sun hit the meadow, the different groupings of mule’s ear lit up until the meadow was a glowing white, the heads of the flowers turning toward the rays of the sun.
I wandered around, searching out different groupings of flowers, some at the height of their bloom, others just beyond. I have always like the juxtaposition of the perfectly mature flower with the faded ones and meadows show off both stages beautifully. I feel the contrast is a metaphor for our personal lives: the charm of youth side by side with the grace of age, both offering tremendous allure.
Leslie Rego is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, artist and Blaine County resident. To view more of Rego’s art, visit www.leslierego.com.