Exactly one year ago on a fine sunny day, My Guy and I drove to Wolfe’s Neck State Park in Freeport to fill the inner most recesses of our lungs with salty ocean air.

Today dawned rainy as has been the forecast now three days old, but we returned to the park with one quest in mind.

To see if we could match the count of Lady’s Slippers we encountered last year and Nature did not disappoint.

But, she also presented others to honor in their wet formations like a few remaining dandelion seeds and translucent bracts offering a sunshiny display.

Even the underside of a windblown tree, one of many, showing off its shallow root system created an artful design to admire.

Hiding beneath two three-part leaves, a long club or spadix sitting in a hooded base or spathe known as a pulpit indicated that Jill and not Jack was doing the preaching in these woods.

Though the weather changed from drizzly to dry, or maybe because it did so, White Baneberry celebrated with a show of fireworks.

And Indian Cucumber Root began to take the next step in its two-tiered story, for at least one flower had been pollinated and rather than dangle below the leaves, rose above in anticipation of a fruit forming.

There was all that to see, but My Guy, whether walking along the yellow brick road or over rocks and roots, only had his sight on one species that actually slowed him in his tracks.

Looking left and right, and peeking under and over, he kept count of his Lady’s Slippers.

Whether they grew in groups or singly, including this one that surprised even him, for it had sprouted from a mossy substrate upon a rock, each one mattered.

When at last we departed the park, I paused the truck beside a small pond outlined with Lupines.

They may not be Lady’s Slippers, but their own unique design and colors deserve to be honored as well.

We didn’t count the Lupines, but our Slippery Eyes took in 324 Lady’s, a total of 87 fewer than last year, but still we gave thanks.