Happy First Day of Spring to you!!

The first day of spring has arrived in Arkansas with cool temperatures, cloudy skies, and brisk winds. Although today is the official first day of spring, flowers have been springing out for the last couple of weeks. We've had some wonderful warm days with sun shining on the blossoms of spring. How about taking a stroll around the yard with me? 

You'll see spring colors just as soon as we step out on the porch. My Forsythia bush blazes with yellow in front of my neighbor's Bradford Pear.

We'll head around the front of the house where you'll see my two Chinese Fringeflower bushes. My daughter bought me these several years ago and they are fascinating to watch in the spring. The blossoms begin as tiny, tight buds that slowly uncurl. My bushes have gotten huge. They're both about 10 feet tall now and loaded with blossoms!

Of course, it wouldn't be spring without weeds! The lower part of our property, which we call the pasture although it's not really a pasture, is full of weeds. It's such a beautiful sight in spring. I have to encourage Jerry not to mow too early so I can enjoy the colors of spring weeds. Among my favorites are the Creeping Buttercups (Renunculus repens) and Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) which has the Greek translation "the devouring purple monster." Spring weeds may be a gardener's worst nightmare, but they do have good qualities. Purple Deadnettle is one of the first weeds to bloom in spring and are therefore a great source of nectar for bees. I can testify to that! These patches of weeds are buzzing with bees! Deadnettles are also a highly nutritious super food that are in the mint family. The leaves and the purple tops are edible and can be used in salads, soups, and smoothies.

If you'd like we can relax for a little while in my swing. There we can see the Phlox and Jonquils showing off their colors while dancing in the breeze. We can watch the birds flitting through the tree branches and finally landing on the feeders. Their spring songs are delightful!

I hope you've enjoyed our short walk and seeing spring in my yard.
I also hope you're enjoying your First Day of Spring!!

"Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves

is heard in our land."

~ Song of Solomon 2:12

Celebrate!

The month of June brings a day of celebration for me. It’s the month of my birth. Before my birthday, which has now passed, I began thinking about how I wanted to celebrate. A friend of mine, Sandra, recently wrote about her birthday celebration on her blog Reflections and Nature. I know she’d love for you to stop by and read about her day and see a little of the beauty of Switzerland. That got me to thinking about my upcoming birthday.

I spend most of my birthdays alone. Now, before you get sad about that, understand that I enjoy being alone. I enjoy being by myself on my birthday, at least during the day. Jerry is home for dinner and the evening. My birthday began with breakfast which I ate outside. I read a while, but then got the urge to go somewhere. I think I was influenced by Sandra’s scenic walk!

I gathered a book, a couple of magazines, my camera, and my binoculars; then headed to a park near the Arkansas River. Oh, and I stopped by and got my favorite lunch; fried chicken strips, tator tots, and a biscuit. Not healthy, but it was my birthday and I was celebrating!

I had a wonderful afternoon, listening to the river rushing by! We’ve had a lot of rain recently and the river was high and fast. I saw a red-winged blackbird, ducks, a blue heron, and various other more common birds. They kept up a constant chorus around me mixed with the chattering of squirrels and the laughter of children. I couldn’t have asked for a better day. It is a tradition that we go out to eat to celebrate birthdays. On Sunday Jerry and I enjoyed a wonderful Mexican meal with our son and his family.

I was wondering how you celebrate your birthday? Do you make plans or have traditions or are you open to spontaneity? 

Lately. . .

It's spring! I'm supposed to be lively and energetic, but I'm not. I've been fatigued, yawning my head off, and feeling irritable! It's called Spring Lethargy. The opposite of Spring Fever, where energy levels rise! Leave it to me to do the opposite of everyone else! I've been trying to overcome this ailment through photography.

So, here's a list of twelve things I've found or done lately.

1. I went to a photography exhibit featuring Ansel Adam's early works. Very impressive and inspiring. Makes me want to take more black and white photos!

2. I worked in my shade gardens getting the last of the fallen leaves removed and burned.

3. I picked one of my mom's peonies to bring in the house to enjoy. Of course, I waited until the bee left.

4. I walked in the woods a little. Not much, the mosquitoes are out in massive numbers. I had to wait for a cool, windy morning!

5. I found some honeysuckle and tasted it. Did you do that as a child; hold the honeysuckle in one hand, pinch off the end,  pull out the stamen and then lick the drop of nectar?  I did! For some reason though, they don't seem to be as sweet and tasteful as when I was a child. This photo makes me laugh. The bloom on the left looks like it's sticking it's tongue out trying to get rid of the spider web!

6. I mowed again! The weeds seem to be winning the battle!

7. I did a little traveling. As Jerry drove, I took pictures out the window. I enjoyed the beautiful spring greens surrounding my favorite barn!

8. I finally purchased a plant I've been wanting for a long time; a hellebore. They aren't showy flowers, just very simple with elegant colors and lines. They do like to keep their heads down which makes photographing them difficult. They remind me of myself when I'm walking; always keeping my head down. There's such interesting things on the ground, but I miss the view that way!

9. Quite by accident I was able to go into a small, old post office (someone left the door unlocked.) It was once the Detonti post office and now sits with an old church and historical home in a town near me. There's not much inside, a bulletin board with old pictures and papers, a typewriter, and a book, The 1932 edition of the Postal Laws and Regulations. Among the papers was a copy of an old envelope. The postmark reads North Hollywood California Feb. 4, 1946. The postage was only 3¢. The fascinating part is the address: This letter is going to Uncle Lee down in Tull, Arkansas, Grant County, between Mud Creek and Saline River, and across the field from Uncle Hardy's, better know as Detonti, Arkansas RR#1. Uncle Lee got the letter all the way From His Nephew Grady DuVall out in California! Wasn't the world simpler back then!

10. I've been watching for the buckeyes to form on our buckeye tree. We had three last year, but the squirrels got them first! This year there are several and also a strange looking bug!

11. We took our car to the shop where it will getting it's new upholstery. You can't tell by this picture, but there are six people in this little car. Jerry, our son, and four grandsons! Just so you know, no child was on the road for the making of this photo! They met Jerry at the end of our long driveway and road to the house. I say that because there are no seat belts yet and three of the boys were on their knees facing backwards. There is no back seat!

12. And lastly a fun surprise as I was driving down some country back roads. I spotted a camel enjoying himself in the spring sunshine. I imagine he was glad to be done with winter! The strangest thing is he doesn't live too far from me and I've never seen him before! Maybe he was there to bring me a laugh!

That about wraps it up! I'm trying very hard to get through these few weeks of low energy. All will be well as soon as I adapt to the seasonal changes. I'm hoping your spring is filled with beauty and that you're enjoying it RIGHT NOW!

Spontaneity!

Spontaneity!  That's what I've been missing! The urge to grab my camera and go; no destination in mind, just go. I didn't realize it has been so long since I spontaneously went on an adventure until I looked back over the last year of my pictures. Only three times did I go on an outing with no planning. I'm really shocked. I used to do that all the time.

So, you guessed it, early Monday morning I went on an adventure. I wasn't sure where I'd end up, but I did know water had to be involved. As I drove north I decided on Maumelle Park. It's a camping/picnicking area on the Arkansas River. 

I arrived early. The park was quiet. As I wandered along the river bank I felt my shoulders relax and my breathing slow.

I stopped to exam wild plants and flowers.

The strangest thing I found at the water's edge were elephants made out of play-doh. I wondered who made them. Were they letting them swim in the river and forgot them?

After the walk it was time to just sit and soak in the beautiful day.

I did a little journaling, a little reading, and whole lot of looking through my binoculars.

I couldn't believe how fast my day passed. Way to soon it was time to pack up and head home.

I was rested. I was happy. I needed this day.

Early Morning

Early morning often finds me outside with my camera. Not too early, but before the sun has risen high and the heat of the day has come. Yes, I'm already griping about the heat! Who wants 80 degree days in spring??

Most of the spring flowers have faded and fallen, but there's still plenty to discover outdoors. Walking across the pasture I met this guy. In fact since I took this picture I've seen him almost every day. He's a quick one, not very shy, and always on the move.

Jerry spotted another turtle in the mud near our property line. He was huge; longer than my foot.

The real surprise was rounding the barn and finding this cute little bunny. I see one now and then hopping across the yard, but this one was so afraid he froze. I felt so sorry for him that I took a couple of quick shots and left him alone. As I walked away, he scooted under the barn.

We're already swarmed by insects. A mild winter makes spring even harder! The mosquitoes, bull gnats, horse flies, and wasps are out in multitudes. There's no sitting outside in the evenings now! What I need is a screened gazebo. I wonder if I could convince Jerry of that!!

And of course, you can't have spring without spiders. They seem to like the new Itea bushes I planted. I had several to choose from for this shot!

My most interesting find was this fuzzy bee looking insect. I've done a little research and can't find anything that looks exactly like him, but he does resemble the bee fly. Yes, I said fly. He's a large one about three quarters of an inch long. They are quite similar to bees. Not only to they resemble bees, they like flower nectar. I was in awe of his beautiful wings. If you know what he is, I'd appreciate knowing.

UPDATE: with the help of my good friend Leon, I've learned that this is a hummingbird moth. Pretty exciting!  Thank you, Leon!

I enjoy looking for the small creatures that we're blessed with. Well, maybe not the wasps and mosquitoes, but you know what I mean. After all, "the Lord God made them all." ~ Cecil Frances Alexander

I hope you're enjoying every moment of this spring season.

"It is in the early morning hour that the unseen is seen, and that the far-off beauty and glory, vanquishing all their vagueness, move down upon us till they stand clear as crystal close over against the soul." ~Sarah Smiley

Morning Walk

I learned a new word this week:

estivate

1. to spend the summer, at a specific place or in a certain activity

2. to spend a hot, dry season in an inactive, dormant state, as certain reptiles, snails, insects and small mammals

That's exactly how I've spent the last few weeks of this dry, hot summer . . . estivating! I slowed down and stayed indoors longing for cooler weather.

Finally the temperatures are starting to drop a little. The arrival of cooler mornings has me returning to my morning walks which are the most peaceful part of my day. That's the time I tune out the worries of life and simple enjoy the quiet.

I breathe deep, relax, hum a little, sing a little, and smile a lot. I even stop and do a little jig now and then.

As I walk down the country road I hear the cadence of my footsteps, the squirrels scampering through the trees, the birds singing their morning songs, and the leaves dancing across the pavement.

I watch the weeds sway in the wind.

I feel the sun on my shoulders . . .

and see it bring light to the dark forest.

What, may I ask, could be any better than this?

There's only one other place I find such peace and that's near water, but since on most mornings that's not an option, I treasure my peaceful morning walks along a country road.

Sunday Sundries - Edition 63

For flowers that bloom about our feet,

Father, we thank Thee;

For tender grass so fresh and sweet,

Father, we thank Thee.

For the song of bird and hum of bee,

For all things fair we hear or see,

Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson