To me, Kay McCarthy’s Flower Garden quilt exudes joy, generosity and wisdom. Her vibrant, colorful flowers float on a burnished, warm background. The quilt reminded me of one my favorite poems, The Children’s Orchard, by one of my favorites poets, Muriel Rukeyser. “In the full sun. In the fruit fall season” the poem begins, as the poet muses on two “bare-ribbed boys golden and shouting” collecting plumbs. Like Kay’s flowers, captured in color, these boys, captured in poetry exist in the same, ancient cycle of life.