arrival

Does everyone have their own cue for when Spring is "really" here?

For many folks, I think it may be plants - individually or collectively - that close the door on Winter. Maybe it's the first sign of ferns:

or daffodils.

Maybe it's the soft and delicate columbine:

or the dazzling pool of color provided by a crocus cluster,

or even the first sight of an insect enjoying the pollen within:

For me, amongst all the signs and sights, 

there is one cue that signals Spring Is Here. 

The appearance of the first bloodroot:

I've been watching. It appeared this morning.

No matter what wild weather we may experience in the weeks ahead, it will not mean Winter was just taking a breather and has come roaring back.

For me, Spring is here.

What are your personal cues for the arrival of Spring? Please leave a comment and share your unique view, whether you are heading into Spring or Autumn or some other season in your world right now.

~~~~~

the real thing

Between drizzling mizzling rains today, I paddled out and got a few pictures of Pulmonaria for you. These pictures accurately show how the colors pop up through the fallen leaves of last Autumn.

The largest leaves are red oak, which gives you an idea of the size of the plants.

And in this picture, you can see deep pink buds, and several flowers in the process of turning from pink to blue. This isn't the exact stem I painted, but it could have been.

I hadn't seen this plant until a kind gardener in town gave me some from her own garden. It was long past blooming, and when it came up the following year I did not know what it was, so the flowers were a big surprise. I posted a picture here on the blog  and several readers identified it for me.

Rereading that old blog post tonight also confirmed my feeling the bloodroot is usually up first.

Speaking of which, here is the bloodroot today: all tucked in against the cold.

Plants are simply amazing, aren't they?

~~~~~

2017 Pictorial

This has been a difficult year for many of us.

And that's all I'm going to say about it.

I hope these 12 images - one chosen from each month's posts - will bring a few smiles. Because there was much to appreciate and enjoy in my ordinary life, and I am happy to share with you.

Each caption is a link to the original post, if you feel like having a wander.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

I hope we all have pleasant dreams tonight

and rise up to make a better world in 2018.

~~~~~

flowery friday

It began raining last night, and I woke to a damp and drizzly, raw and still-rainy world. But it wasn't very cold, and it wasn't at all windy, so I just waited for a break in the drizzle to go out and give the goats a hearty meal to keep their spirits up.

While waiting for the goats to eat, I took a few quick pictures of flowers. Yes, flowers!

Here is one of the bloodroot plants again. It decided to stay wrapped up and tucked in today, which is exactly how I felt when I woke up and saw the weather.

And here is forsythia - or yellow bells, which is what my blogfriend Tipper says they are called in Appalachia. I think of them that way now, too. Perfect name.

These daffodils got plastered, face-first, to the ground by the rain. They look quite comfortable indoors now, and are the brightest spot in the house.

And here are some of the first Vinca blossoms. Soon there will be a subtle carpet of vinca flowers. Less subtle if I get out there and rake the leaves off, and maybe I will, but it's not a priority task so no promises there.

Here's one more.

Do you recognize these?

They are red maple flowers.

There is a scattering of lovely pink and red all over the ground,

and it is even more apparent on a rainy day.

Yesterday - before the rain - I watched Tsuga and Fern carefully eating every maple flower that had fallen on a large rock. I've never seen the goats do that before. Always something new in Goat World!

~~~

Here's to the start of a great weekend for all.
What's happening in your neck of the woods?

~~~~~

weekend snapshots

It has been a hot, sunny weekend.

I mean, hot.

And sunny.

I had to take off my flannel shirt. And put on a visor.

And now, at 5 in the evening, 

I've had to come inside for a while to cool off.

Good time to post a few snapshots!

~~~

Yesterday, after doing the recycling,

Piper and I went for a stroll by the pond.

This is Piper, strolling:

The maples were flowering.

And the sky really was that blue.

See? Even in reflection. Very blue.

But when you look beneath the reflection,

you also see green and yellow.

(A few weeks ago, this was ice. Remember?)

There was a lot of green at the water's edge, too.

These reeds are vibrant.

Back at home, there is also a bit of green.

Softer green.

I almost cried when I saw these fragile bloodroot flowers.

Bloodroot is always a miracle to me.

And this year, even more so.

Because these very few and tiny plants 

mean the goatbarn builder

did not kill all my bloodroot with his skidder.

I love bloodroot.

~~~

Now, does anyone know what this little plant is called?

This amazing plant that is already poised to flower?

It's one of the many, many perennials

given to me by a generous friend last autumn.

She told me what most of them were, and when I got home,

I tried to remember.

And as I planted them, I carefully placed a label next to each.

I laughed yesterday when I saw this plant's label:

"mottled"

True enough, as far as it goes!

Does anyone know what it is?

The flower may be purple, if that helps.

~~~

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Are you gardening yet?

It seems like I am so far behind everyone else,

but here the ground is only now warming up.

OHHHH!

As I was typing,

the first hummingbird just swooped by!!!

Must go prepare the feeder.

Huzzah!

~~~~~

Rain, Day 4

Welcome to my saturated world.

Since Tuesday night, it has been raining off and on.  

Mostly "on."

During a brief lull this morning, I grabbed my camera and hurried outside to take a few snaps to share with you.

I hope you like the color "wet."

~~~~~

Sanguinaria canadensis

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

To me, this wildflower truly marks a turning point.

Yes, we may get more snow.

Yes, I was still burning wood around the clock until two days ago.

(And I considered lighting a fire last night. And the night before.)

But in my mind, there is no turning back now.

As of Wednesday, when the first bloodroot appeared

like magic - as it always does -

it is Spring.

~~~~~