bleu, blanc, rouge

the bushes to whom these three berries belong were all bunched up together on my morning walk, each about head-height and loaded with berries. most americans, when they see red, white, and blue together think of the american flag. but i always think of the tricolor blocks the french flag first–bleu, blanc, rouge–liberté, égalité, fraternité. perhaps it’s the relative simplicity of those thee blocks of color that make it my first association. the american flag is busy. and busy is less sticky than simple.

buckthorn berries, viburnum nudum berries, high-bush cranberries