Birthstones for June are pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone; the birth flowers are rose and honeysuckle (we have both in our garden). And the leaves this month are every shade of green, lush, gorgeous, shady, and welcoming. They draw us in and paint the world with thoughts of growth and joy …
FOLIAGE
June spreads green 
dark light lime
emerald olive
a curtain of foliage
that absorbs
chickadee and woodpecker
and flows green
through my window
I hold out my arms
and grow leaves
To Bethlehem: ‘This little book is delightful, full of … poems on this timeless subject. … the most fun is the little prose vignettes of the common people in the Christ-child story. The slave who looks after the wise men’s camels, or the overworked maid at the inn who has to fetch water for the birth, and many more. A lovely gift for the reader on your Christmas list!’ Rosalind Adams. Available from Amazon and Kindle.
1960willowtree 