The Herb Bundle

I dropped down from the gazebo's lower rail and crossed the manicured turf toward a weathered cedar bench nestled among the trees. At its base, I gathered three distinct specimens fallen from the canopy: a brittle cluster of dried yarrow heads, a dark cedar cone, and a curled strip of cedar bark. Climbing onto the grooved wooden slat, I laid them out in alignment. Using a supple blade of wild orchard grass, I bound the stems and wood tightly together, drawing each loop taut with steady, deliberate fingers. Tucked safely into the armrest seam, my compact bundle rested secure—a silent harvest of the afternoon's craft.