Wood Anemone  Anemone quinquefolia

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Wood Anemones or Wind Flowers

The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass.  The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.  Isaiah 40:7-8  

He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea “Peace!  Be still!”  Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.  He said to them, “Why are you afraid?  Have you still no faith?”  And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”  Mark 4:39-41  (NRSV)

Who is in Control?
The Wood Anemone is a delicate spring flower that is easily moved by spring breezes.  The name Anemone comes from the Greek term meaning “wind”.  Sometimes the flowers are called “Wind flowers” perhaps because they tremble in the breeze on their slender stalks.  The white flowers with a pink tinge on the back open in sunlight and close at night.  After blooming the flowers fall off and the leaves also are shed.  The plant goes dormant till the next spring.
Our lives too are brief and fragile.  We are like fragile spring flowers.  During life we are strengthened by God’s word, his word of love.  We are assured that the promises God makes to us are true and will be there forever.
Throughout life we experience the “wind” of storms of life.  We are afraid.  We are reminded of Jesus’ words spoken when he was on the stormy sea with them.  He said, “Peace!  Be still!” and then there was a dead calm.  The disciples wondered who this could be that even the wind and the sea would obey him.  They were in the ship with the Creator of all.  The Creator’s words were true in the past, true then, and true forever.  The Creator was and is still in control.  
As we observe the small Wood Anemone or Wind Flower blow in the breezes we know that it’s visible life above ground is brief.  The Creator knows its time and place, how it grows and how it needs to rest underground.  The Creator of the Wind Flower is also our Creator who promises to stay with us when the “wind blows” in our lives.

Dear Lord,
As we look at the wind blowing fragile flowers help us remember that you are in control when the “wind” blows in our lives.  Remind us that your word abides forever.  In your name we pray, Amen.

Things to Think About and Do
•  Watch plants at they blow in the wind.  What effects does wind have on plants?
•  Read books about wildflowers and see how many different names people have given to this plant.  Think about why it is important to have one scientific name for a plant.  How might a scientific name for a plant help people find more specific information about it?
•  Find a patch of Wood Anemones you can observe.  Make a record of changes you see.
•  Note how the plants grow in colonies.  They have rhizomes that spread underground.  Measure the size of the patch of leaves and flowers.
•  Note the kinds of places in which the Wood Anemone is found.  Why might it grow well in these places?
•  Note which plants have flowers and which ones have only leaves.
•  Look at the shapes of the leaves.  Compare leaves in a patch to see how they are alike and different.
•  Look at the colors on the plant.  What names do you give to the colors you see?  Compare those colors to crayons in a box, color grids on a computer, or other listings of colors you have.  Try to draw or paint the plant with the colors available to you.  Which ones do you have and which ones are missing?
•  Watch for insects that come to the Wood Anemone.  Note how they come to and leave the flowers.