Lily's Language Lab: Week of 05/03/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

The meadowlark is a type of bird that is known for its beautiful singing and its distinctive yellow and black plumage. May is a great time to hear the melodious songs of the meadowlark, particularly in fields and grassy areas. It's a wonderful word to share, especially around this time of year, when nature is coming back to life.

Lily, our resident "Word Wiz," observes a meadowlark that is perched on a tree branch in the merry month of May! (Digital image by the Editor.)

 

Weekly Haiku: 04/30/2026 -- Beltane!

This week's haiku is about the ancient Celtic festival of Beltane, which falls on May Day. It celebrates the end of the dark winter half of the year and the start of the bright summer half of the year. The Beltane haiku was composed by the Editor's cousin Rowan.

Druids light the fire,

Blossoms open beneath them —

Beltane night is bright!

In this digital image by the Editor, we see his cousin Rowan standing next to a brightly decorated Maypole. Happy May Day to everyone! :)

Lily's Language Lab: Week of 04/26/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

Beltane is a Celtic festival that marks the beginning of summer and is celebrated by many people around the world on May 1. It's a time of renewal, fertility, and the coming of the light, and it's often associated with bonfires, Maypoles, and various springtime celebrations.

In the merry month of May,

When the world is in a sway,

And the flowers all in bloom,

Beltane nixes winter gloom!

In this digital image created by the Editor, we see Lily, the compiler of our weekly Lily's Language Lab column, at a Beltane bonfire on May Eve (the night of April 30).

Weekly Haiku: 04/23/2026

 This week, in honor of Earth Day on April 22nd and Arbor Day on April 24th, we present a haiku from the Editor's cousin Rowan! :)

"Protect the planet!

Acts of kindness ripple out!

Hope grows like a tree!"

This digital image by the Editor shows our planet Earth hovering on the horizon at the South Pole of the Moon, where the Artemis IV astronauts are expected to land when NASA returns to the Moon in a few years' time.

Lily's Language Lab: Week of 04/19/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

Dendrology is the study of trees and forests, and it's a great word to learn when discussing the importance of trees and the benefits of reforestation and forest preservation. Trees are such an important part of our planet, and they play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity and promoting a healthy ecosystem. It's a wonderful word to share with people who have a love of nature and a keen interest in the natural world.

A dryad -- a tree-nymph from Classical mythology -- stands in the midst of a grove of oak trees within the enchanted Forest of Broceliande. This famous forest, located in Brittany (the Celtic region of western France), was the site of many legendary adventures for King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table and for Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins. (Digital image created by the Editor.)

 

Weekly Haiku: 04/16/2026

This week's haiku celebrates the triumphant return of the four heroic Artemis II astronauts to Earth after their successful mission to the Moon in the Orion spacecraft. The poem was cowritten by the Editor and his cousin Rowan. :)

Moon-bound Orion. 

Humanity's giant leap. 

The road to new worlds!

3.5 billion years ago, due to pervasive volcanic eruptions, the Moon had liquid water on its surface and an atmosphere for about 70 million years. This digital image, created by the Editor, shows what the Moon might have looked like during that timespan, eons ago.

Lily's Language Lab: Week of 04/12/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

Ornithology is the scientific study of birds, and it's a great word to describe the appreciation of our fine-feathered friends, especially during this time of year as the bird population grows with the warmer weather. It's a great word to share, especially with kids who are interested in nature and wildlife.

In this digital image by the Editor, we see a green phoenix (firebird) in its nest, spreading its wings at the approach of dawn. The phoenix in this image has been depicted with green plumage because ancient zoological authorities tell us that the phoenix derived its nourishment from sunlight. :) One Classical Latin writer, Lactantius (ca. 250-325 CE), refers to the phoenix's green coloration in one of his poems.