Sea Oats

A beam of late afternoon light illuminated the grasses that spilled over onto the street. The ripening seed heads shivered in the breeze. Sea oats have gained popularity among those who want to replace a traditionally tidy garden with a more naturalized haven for birds and insects, perhaps even a mini-meadow. They remind me of the illustrations on my antique Thanksgiving postcards, which often include sheaves of wheat and other grains along with apples, grapes and pumpkins. This is a different bounty, intended to help sustain our winged friends.