“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Proverbs 4:23
The promise of a new day…about 2 hours after the vernal equinox. Hello spring!
To say “bye bye” to the final week of winter, we thought it time to get out and see what new colors are appearing. Vernal means “fresh” or new and an awakening is taking place in our area.
This cutleaf toothwort (or crow’s toes) was noticed along an old, nearby logging road I hike or jog on sometimes. I learned it is in the mustard family and is a woodland wildflower native to eastern North America.
It sounds strange as we’ve welcomed spring to say it’s snow ball time! But the viburnum is coming to life and those huge round white flower heads are on the way. This was a week ago…
…and 7 days has revealed a lot of progress.
I remembered a spot in the open hardwoods near the river that I thought I had seen trillium last year. And sure enough my memory served me well (for a change) and a number of plants are springing up through the leaves. I hope to drop by every few days and record their progress. I think they bloom and vary in color. I wonder what color this one will be?
Pam and I are thinking the redbuds are blooming a little later this season ? Whether true or not, once it happens, they are truly beautiful. I call them the “love” tree because of the shape of their leaves.
No leaves yet of course. A similar growth pattern is found on several trees and plants. Blooms first, leaves second!
Love is in the air…our local gobblers are working so hard to impress the ladies!
Carolina jessamine, which I’ve always called jasmine, is an evergreen vine native to the southeastern U. S. This beauty is known for it’s fragrance but with the inability to smell anything for almost 4 months, I cannot provide personal confirmation. Do you have this plant, and if so, is it fragrant?
I used my imagination and decided a flower this pretty must smell good!
A surprise discovery down on the lower 40 of flowers we had no idea were there. Grape hyacinths (Muscari) have popped up in several places and have obviously been part of the farm for a long time.
Our look back this week takes us to a Georgia farm road about two years ago. We think this pic Katy captured is one of the neatest photos we’ve seen and truly captures springtime in the country. And I would be remiss if I failed to say…take me home country roads!
The last week of winter was rainy and stormy with numerous tornadoes causing damage in Alabama and other areas across the region.
A lot of water still cascading over Noccalula Falls yesterday but a sunny day was enjoyed by many park visitors!
Praying you have a wonderful 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
Beautiful entrance to spring! Thank you for the photos.
Our pleasure, thank you Rita!
Beautiful photos! Our redbud hasn’t begun to bud yet, but we may be a bit higher in elevation. I hope that trillium blooms. We have a tiny little wildflower here called a trout lily that should be blooming now, and I have never been able to find one blooming in real life. Must take a hike this week on the trail where I know there are some.
Thank you Carole. Taking a hike is always a good idea!
Carolina jessamine…our state flower of South Carolina! I have it growing in my yard and have never noticed a fragrance. But when the Confederate jasmine blooms, the air is filled with the most intoxicating aroma. So sorry your sense of smell has not returned, does that make it difficult to eat? John, his 96 yo mother, and I have had both doses of our vaccine, and we are very thankful.
Thank you Roxanne. Butch, my Dad, and I have had both doses of the vaccine. Butch has about 60-70% of his taste to return.
Wishing you a lovely week, my friend!
Pam and Butch, The spring blooms are beautiful. Butch, so sorry to hear your sense of smell hasn’t returned. Hopefully, it will soon. We know it’s troubling. The blooms are so colorful and uplifting. Hope you enjoy this gorgeous day! Clara ❤️
Thanks so much, Clara. Wishing you a lovely week my friend ♥️
Beautiful Spring captures! I love the Spring Snowball blooms, I wish I had vibrunum in my yard. Losing your sense of smell must be frustrating Butch, I hope it returns soon. I know everyone is really looking forward to Spring this year and I can’t wait for more sunshine and warm temps. Have a lovely Sunday!
Jenna
Thank you Jenna. The loss of smell is also dangerous, you couldn’t smell smoke or gas leaks. His taste is back to about 60-70%.
Wishing you a lovely week my friend!
that is awful, fingers crossed it all comes back soon…
Lovely post, Butch. I hope you will find the trilliums in bloom. They are my favorite wildflower. Hope you did not have COVID and that your sense of smell will soon return. Carolina Jessamine would be sad to miss.
Thank you, Sandra. Yes, Butch had COVID at Thanksgiving and he still hasn’t regained smell and only partial taste. What is amazing…I didn’t get the virus. He had a bad case. He is at full speed, running 4 miles a day, just can’t smell.
Butch – Your nature walks are always so instructive (I take notes) and the pictures are the cream on top.Kathy’s photo is a
winner… I hope your sense of smell returns (for lovely aromas) Does it greatly affect your sense of taste? We had a hillock covered in lilies of the valley that surrounded a screened porch and it was intoxicating to sit there and whiff… God keeps His promises and though Winter comes, Spring is not far behind to be cherished for its beauty and giftedness. So looking foward to the treasure of the garden you and Pam have created and share so generously with us. Have a blessed weekend.
Thanks Mary! His loss of smell does affect taste. He has about 60-70% taste is all. Have a lovely week, my friend!
I agree wholeheartedly..,the photo that Katy took has to be one of the prettiest I have ever seen. All of the photos and scripture you have shared are perfect for this Sunday. I hope you both have a very blessed and happy week ahead!
Thanks so much, Shannon. Have a lovely and blessed week, my friend!
Spring has Sprung in your neck of the woods! I enjoyed all the flowers and that Carolina Jessamine looks very similar to a bush we have out here in AZ but the leaves are different.
So sad that Butch still does not have his smell back… I will pray for you Butch!
I do enjoy your nature walks… so very pretty my friends.
Happy Sunday!
Nancy, Butch appreciates your prayers so very much. Thank you for your sweet visit, my friend!
So pretty….sorry to hear Butch is not quite 100 % yet…we have night jasmine that is out of this world fragrant right now and it is lovely. As always you two provide beautiful Sunday photos and scriptures. We have been glued to March Madness basketball and cheering for our Kansas Jayhawks. A lot of the teams are being upset early, some due to Covid. I will be glad when this virus fades away. So glad you didn’t get it, Pam.
Hugs and Blessings Always to you both.
Kari
Thank you dearest Kari. Hugs and blessings, my friend!
What a joy to wrap up the weekend with you, Pam! Your spring blooms are so far ahead of where we are, so visiting this evening is a lovely foretaste of the coming weeks.
Thanks for sharing His beauty week in and week out. My spirit lifts every time I come to call …
Thank you for your encouraging comments, Linda. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Where you have an over abundance of rain we are experiencing an over abundance of snow. Butch do you ever see a Lady Slipper growing in the woods?…They are a protected species and so beautiful.. I would love to see a picture of one. They grew wild in my grandmothers woods. I love the redbud. I had a old large one in my NC yard and was sad when I had to leave it when I moved. I love the pink blooms along the dark bark and also the heart shaped leaves that follow. I drove by the house when I was there in October and it had been cut down. SO SAD! We had covid in November but no long lasting effects from it. Hope your sense of smell returns 100%- Country Roads take me home. Would love to here you sing it.
Thank you Alice. Rain is supposed to start back tomorrow with possible severe weather on Thursday. It seems that snow will never end in Colorado, it just keeps coming. We love the redbuds, they are everywhere, so sad you can’t enjoy them in CO. We have never seen a Lady Slipper, we are a little too far south of its range. Butch does a great job singing Country Roads. Have a wonderful week, friend
It’s definitely glorious spring in your world and I just love it. So fun to see the flowers blooming and all that glorious nature! What a beautiful world you live in!
It is a beautiful part of our state with mountains, lakes, and waterfalls! Thank you Jeanie!
Hearing the word “vernal” made me think of a hymn my Mom and Daddy used to sing together. I can’t for the life of me remember the words, but that word alone jogged my memory. Isn’t it funny how things like that happen? The photo by Katy is just amazing! I love pictures that show a trail or road with a bend, and you always are left wondering just what is around that bend. Kind of like life, huh? God bless you all.
Blessings sweet friend and thank you!