Violets blooming in November in my parents west-facing landscaping

Their bright purple like a firework against the frozen solid ground

muted and fading greens of grass

like the brightness of the green had a can of low white mixed in

diluting

depressing.

They were a surprise to me

But not to my mom

Buttercups in the spring, in the woods, and into the summer

If you eat them they taste sweet, like butter

Little yellow chalices so prim and proper