Growing greenly in the shade

Yesterday while I was at the Warren Center in Ashland, MA participating in this year’s Framingham State faculty writing retreat, I took several short walks in the woods along the nearby reservoir. To me, this is the perfect recipe for a productive writing day: write, walk, repeat.

It was a warm day, but comfortable in the shade. I heard vireos, pewees, ovenbirds, and a scarlet tanager singing, and I met a woman walking two soggy dogs who were clearly enjoying their off-leash time.

Along the path, I saw several pink lady’s slippers and a well-camouflaged stand of Jack-in-the-pulpit growing greenly in the shade, undisturbed by passing dogs and dog-walkers.