The cosmic wedding
BUNCHBERRY: The flowers of bunchberry, also known as Dwarf Cornel, resemble those of flowering dogwood — and with good reason, for the plants are close relatives. The 4 greenish-white “petals”, set over a whorl of 4 to 6 leaves, are actually bracts surrounding a cluster of tiny, green- or yellow-petaled flowers. The unusual symmetry of the plant sets it off from all others. Bunchberry grows in cool northern woods, where it is partial to rich, acid soils. In fall the short stems, 2 to 8 inches high, are topped by clusters of scarlet berries, which give this attractive plant its name. — Spring and summer. Dogwood family.
~ FLOWERS by Dr. Herbert Zim and Dr. Alexander Martin
The tree frogs echo through these lowland woods. We’re well into the official spring season, but the Northwoods are still teetering between winter and warmth. The frogs are one of the final weights to tip the scales. Soon the world will be green again.
The rebirth of the land, the flourishing of life, reminds me how quickly the forest can shift from dark and inhospitable to bright and thriving. Storytellers have mirrored this paradox for centuries. In some stories, the forest may be a place of unknown horrors, waiting to devour the hero. In others, it is grounds for hidden treasure, fountains of youth, and prosperity.
One such tale that portrays the duality of the woods is the cosmic wedding.