“He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.”
Psalm 147:4
No telescope, binos, or fancy lens here but a cell phone pic using the night shot feature. Seth has been experimenting with his phone and now has me interested in learning how to use the different settings on my new phone. It is amazing what these phones will do! We had some very clear nights last week and Orion was just one of many interesting things in the night sky.
It is meteorological spring and I attempted to notice a few things this past week that might have gotten the word. The swamp seems to be coming to life!
And sometimes this happens if you “leave it to beaver”!
When the trees are bare there is so much to notice that is likely overlooked in the summer. I had never seen this old structure that is along a county road a few miles from our house. I cannot help but wonder what is was used for, when, and by whom.
A sea of white bushes and small trees in an undisturbed area this time of year often says “Bradford pear”. This popular cultivar of the callery pear was originally bred as sterile and thornless, making it a very nice choice for ornamental planting, or so we thought…
…but the plant has cross-pollinated with other cultivars and produces viable fruit. Birds like the ripened fruit and you know the rest of the story. A planting they will go. And, as can be seen here, these rogue plants have substantial thorns. This has caused the once popular tree to be considered invasive by most people and it is illegal to plant them in many areas!
Our gold flame spirea is “springing” back nicely. And while we are on the subject of spring, remember to spring forward those clocks this Saturday!
Pam and I have dreamed of visiting the English countryside (or France) when lavender fields are in full bloom or maybe being in Texas at bluebonnet time. Maybe one day, but until then…we will settle for our own version of purple, and it is currently blooming everywhere. Most of our purple is probably henbit, a mint family weed that is really kinda pretty, as long as it’s not in your yard. And the name comes from the fact that chickens like it!
A prolific camellia I noticed in a nearby cemetery. Yes, I visited a cemetery to grab a few pics! Our camellia has stopped blooming and usually blooms earlier. They are obviously different varieties!
Going back this week to 2015 finds me exploring an area of northern Ireland’s coastline called Giant’s Causeway. This is a UNESCO world heritage site that has 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns and is one of the most recognizable areas in northern Ireland. I wasn’t the only one visiting as someone (named Pam) took this photo!
You can find a little more about Ireland on last Friday’s post by clicking here.
We can always count on the Japanese quince. It is one of the earliest bloomers in our part of north Alabama.
An old home place in a nearby community that I honestly do not remember seeing until I happened by yesterday. What a treasure to have this well preserved. It reminds me so much of my great grandparents house in Florida. This one has an open hallway down the middle and this design is commonly called a dogtrot house!
We did not know this Beale’s barberry was in the woods right by the house but discovered it by accident last week. Bees had already located these early blooms and were dropping by to visit.
The vernal equinox is not until March 20th but we are gearing up.
Hoping you have a blessed week!
”Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”.
Hebrews 13:8
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Butch, I learn so much from all of your posts! I drove past a huge field of “purple” this week, and had no idea what it was. For a moment I pretended I was in Provence and it was lavender! It seems in a blink of an eye things have started to green up even though we have had crazy up and down weather. Looking forward to leaping forward and more daylight in the evenings (even though I kind of wish we would leave them time alone). Have a blessed week.
Thank you Roxanne. I am always learning from Butch. He is a great teacher. Wishing you a most wonderful week my friend!
Wonderful preamble to spring! We are soon going for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultras. Is that the phone you were toying with the night skies? Beautiful clarity! I did not know about the downside of Bradford pear cross-pollinators, good to know. I love the Japanese quince and that camellia – wow! Every little sign of spring is a welcome sign of my favorite season. Have a wonderful week!
Good morning Rita! Yes, that is the iPhone 12 that Butch recently got. It seems to have an amazing camera. Our last five days have been rain free with sunny skies and mild temps. Have a wonderful week!
Good morning Pam and Butch, The night sky is gorgeous! The quince and camellia blooms are absolutely beautiful! We didn’t know what the purple blooms were, but it’s pretty and now we know. Thank you! Those thorns on the pear would be painful. We also didn’t know they would cross pollinate but have never planted them as the wind seems to tear them up so often. They are pretty when they’re blooming. We learn so much from your posts and greatly appreciate it. We’re a bit behind on the blooming scale, but things are indeed slowly waking up. We’ll soon have daffodils. Yay! We bought 6 hybrid tea rose bushes and 2 peonies yesterday. We’re ready to dig in the dirt! Enjoy your day! Clara ❤️
Thank you Clara. Your weather has been harsh so hopefully you can dig in the dirt soon. We have had five beautiful sunny days. Enjoy your Sunday ♥️
I have been wondering what’s up with the camellias this year, one of mine is in full bloom right now, and it usually blooms earlier in winter…I am going to get an iPhone 12 soon, I’ve heard the camera is amazing. I feel that we are quickly on our way to Spring in the South with the sunny days and warmer temps this week and things seem to be sprouting everywhere. Whenever I see the pear trees blooming I know we’re close. I know you both are itching to be “on the road again” but it is nice to revisit favorite trips through your photos. Have a lovely Sunday!
Jenna
Thanks Jenna. Hasn’t the last few days been wonderful? Spring is definitely on its way. Hopefully we will be able to travel soon. Enjoy this gorgeous day!
Wonderful post, Butch, I learned something about pear trees today. Beautiful photos!
Thanks so much Carole!
Pam and Butch, Love Love love your pics of Spring flowers and trees. God’s beauty is everywhere isn’t it? When we lived in Kansas/Missouri we had Bradford pears and they were lovely, but with such soft wood and shallow roots systems, we were warned that branches could break and make an otherwise beautifully shaped tree into a bit of a grotesque configuration…and sadly “they” were right and it only took one extra windy day a few years later to reduce my beautifully flowering Bradford Pears to “spindles”! But they were glorious while they lasted. I still admire rows of flowering trees in medians. We have crape myrtles and hibiscus in medians here in Florida. Have a great and blessed day.
Kari
Thank you so much Kari. Our city planted Bradford pears down the medians and they were beautiful for several years. As they grew, they became more susceptible to the wind. They eventually got rid of all of them. They are beautiful in the spring! Have a blessed week, dear one!
Good morning, Butch and Pam! I love all of these wonderful photographs, and the one of the night sky is beautiful. Japanese Quince is always so pretty and one of our first signs of spring, too. I love spring, and I’m so excited for its arrival. I hope you both have a happy Sunday!
Thank you Shannon. Signs of spring are everywhere!
Good morning, Butch and Pam. What a beautiful post. I do love the photo of the camellia, it is a beauty. There are many varieties of camellia’s and like so many other plants, there are early, mid-season and late blooming varieties. I do miss them. It is too cold here for them to survive the winters, but I am happy I enjoyed them while living in VA. Your photo of the old homeplace is so touching. One does wonder about all the life that once made this a special home. Like you, I dream of seeing the lavender fields in France. Wishing both of you a beautiful day and week ahead.
Thanks so much Sandra. I do love old places that are time worn and forgotten. Have a lovely week!
I love the thought that we might both be looking at Orion at the same time! Oh, these blooms are so pretty. It won’t be too much longer now and I am oh, so eager! Happy week to both of you!
Thank you dear Jeanie. Happy week to you!
The pictures of your surroundings are like another Sabbath sermon extolling the wonders the Lord has made. With a grateful heart I took them all in. The camellia is breathtaking and lush…mine seem adolescent by comparison, but hope reigns eternal.. The star-filled sky is another testament to the mighty gifts in His treasure trove to us and you have garnered the subtle, often overlooked aspects of what lies about us to be discovered., if we but open our eyes and hearts to see. Another Sunday “thank you” to you both for so much inspiration and vision. Let us agree; we are all so blessed.
Mary, your comments are always uplifting and encouraging. Yes, we are beyond blessed. Wishing you a lovely week my friend!
I had to share your first photo with the hubby as he is beginning astrological photography as a new hobby though with gear differing from an iPhone! I’ll stick with the latter.
Astrological photography would be awesome to learn. Post some of his photos!
Pam, hi! I am so very intrigued by those old structures you’ve shared with us today! I love stuff like this, always wondering about the story and the people behind those walls back in the day.
Linda, old structures make me think the same. Wishing you a blessed week!
Just wanted to make sure you knew John Denver: Country Boy is on PBS tonight. Started at 6:30 here in Wisconsin. It originally aired in 2013 but always fun to watch again.
Thank you Donna. I will turn it on! Have a great evening~
I’m so jealous of all the blooms popping out there. Butch you had such a fascinating bunch of pictures for us today and it was kind of funny for you to see buildings you hadn’t noticed before. The camellia bush in the cemetery is beautiful. I miss having them. So I went to see if anything was bursting out of the ground in our gardens and found tulips and buttercups poking their little heads out of our frozen ground plus the koi was moving in the pond. One only has to look to see nature slowly awaking up.
Alice, I am so glad you saw some spring bulbs popping up from the frozen ground. You are correct, just open our eyes and we can see nature waking up and the goodness of God. Happy Monday!
So thankful to the Lord to be alive and able to witness another birthing of spring! It is a wonderful thing to see everything come alive. Thank you for sharing all the beautiful blooms around your area. The camelia is just stunning! And, I think someone should buy that abandoned house and restore it to its former glory! It makes me sad to see a house go to ruin – not sure if that one is repairable, but what a joy it would be to see it restored. Wouldn’t you love to know its history? I love old structures like that! God bless you both!
Good morning, Cheryl. God is so good to us! His spring awakening is always a joy to behold. Have a blessed day!
Good morning. The bluebonnets are suppose to be prolific this year because of colder weather. Nothing more beautiful than a field full. Your pictures today are lovely.
We would love to see them! Thank you Linda!
Spring has definitely arrived in your neck of the woods and is certainly starting to put on a show. And who would guess that you could get an amazing photo of the night sky with an iPhone.
Thank you Karen. Enjoy your week!