“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,”
Psalm 92:1-2
It is amazing what a couple of inches of mid-week rain can do to enhance an already intriguing water fall. Simple Southern Sunday is primarily about what I encounter as I roam around during the week…it’s just everyday living!
All of this weeks pics, with the exception of the first and last, were made as I took walks right out our door to explore what was new in the yard and along the wooded trails I frequent. This patch of wood sorrel (oxalis) never fails to show up in a corner near the patio. It is often mistaken for a type of clover, but one sure way to tell the difference is the heart shaped leaves!
The snowball viburnums are all green now but should soon be a mass of white, looking like a spring snowstorm arrived …if a late frost doesn’t take a toll!
Area dogwoods are just beginning to come into their own as far as those classic unique blooms that signal spring. Some say when the dogwoods are in full bloom, it’s time to go fishing. Others say any time is a good time to be fishing!
It may be spring, but I could not resist the way Christmas ferns appear with new growth. So unusual…the curled ends look like caterpillars to me. Maybe army worms? This fern is common in our state and gets the name because the fronds normally remain green in the winter around Christmas.
This looks so peachy! I noticed a couple of small trees near a garden spot that belongs to a neighbor (about 1/2 mile from the house) so I chose to investigate. He has the best looking garden year after year and always brings us okra. Okra is southern y’all. But, I never knew he had peach trees.
While strolling back through that garden spot I was greeted by a sea of yellow. The mustard greens from last fall are in full bloom. Not a bad deal…food and flowers all in one plant!
We have our fair share of gray furry rodents. I’m not sure the plan for the acorn? Was it just dug up, about to be buried, or maybe lunch?
And since squirrels are on my mind, I found this den while hiking Friday. I assume it belongs to a squirrel. I’ve never seen a more precise and decorative entrance to a den. Impressive!
The alliums the girls helped me plant last fall are very pretty, but the foliage was hurt by frost and cold nights prior to the buds and blooms.
Based on dated pics from previous years we believe spring is a little slow this year. I was pleasantly surprised to find native mountain azaleas blooming. While on a trail run, I spotted these on the side of a steep ridge about a mile from the house and decided to get a closer look!
I do believe it was worth the hike up the mountain! I have several spots that I check every year where I know the azaleas grow!
I did not expect to encounter this in the edge of our pasture. Can you imagine wearing a crown made from something like this? I will have to remove these (there were two) as they cannot remain at this location. I know why they are here since there is a honey locust in the woods nearby!
I am aware of a few “off the beaten path” places where certain wild perennials can always be found. This is an example of one small area where mayapples appear year after year!
Do you have fire ant mounds? These mounds are really a problem in the south and I believe there are more popping up this season than ever. Problems created by these ants costs $billions each year. The first imported fire ants are believed to have arrived through the port of Mobile, Alabama over 100 years ago. The red ones that are so prevalent now showed up in the 1930’s. If you lived in the southeast in the 60’s and maybe early 70’s you may remember that the government dropped chemicals/pellets from planes on fields and woodlands in an effort to eradicate the invader. The eradication attempt was begun in the late 1950’s. It was expensive and controversial. I remember being in fields when low flying planes dropped the pellets!
One of my hidden spots has a colony of trilliums. These are called “Sweet Betsy’s”, are native to our region, and especially found in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. Again, I typically find these with buds and some with blooms by late March but this is the only plant I saw last week that had a bud. I hope to check them again in a few days.
Another low growing woodland plant that you have to be looking for is the cutleaf toothwort. It is sometimes called pepper root because it’s underground stems (rhizomes) are edible and said to be peppery. I hear people put the stems in salads but I’ve not had the urge to do that!
Completing this week’s post is our throwback… Rosecliff Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, 2016.
Have a blessed week. Lord willing, we will see you next Sunday, and it will be April. Wow!
”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
Thanks for the names and info on the wild plants. Very interesting
Thank you for your visits, Gail!
Fascinating informations about the ants. My kids who live in Louisiana have hills like that and they are here in Florida as well. If you have been stung, you will never forget it. The alliums are brilliant in color and design. Dogwoods blooming and the viburnum-all so magnificent. What a clever squirrel you have. That was so interesting to see. Up north we see nests high in the trees that they build but I have never seen a whole like that. Happy Sunday. Thank you for the lovely spring walk.
Thank you, Ruthie. To step on one of the ant hills is pure torture. We always have to be careful with our grandchildren so they don’t step on one. Happy Sunday!
Beautiful pictures. Have a lovely week ahead , dear friends.
Thank you so much, Maristella!
Thanks for the walk about with information about so many native wild-flowers. I enjoyed native azaleas near our home on a vacant lot for the last number of years. They probably are gone now since a new house was recently built. I will miss them. They were both pink and yellow.
I hope we will not have a late frost.Last year on April 2nd we had a late frost. I covered as many of my hydrangeas and amaryllis as I could. I haven’t had a good year with my hydrangeas in a while. I wonder if my plants are getting old and tired.
Have a blessed week.
Thank you, Bonnie. I am sorry the view of native azaleas is gone. We love seeing them in the 250 acre woods surrounding us. Happy Sunday!
We have May Apples on our property too. Looking at the forest floor in the spring, many tiny flowers and more of nature’s beauty can be seen. That wild azalea is lovely!
Yes, the forest floor has many delights to discover. Thank you, Carole!
Love your weekly out and abouts, Butch. DId you read about part of Cliff Walk being closed due to erosion? That was just a couple weeks ago. WV has a few variety of native trillium too, snow trillium probably the most popular. A friend of mine just enjoyed his first crop of ramps this past weekend, just ahead of the state’s Ramp Festival next month. 🙂 Fire ants – scary! Thankful we don’t have those (yet) in our state! Have a great week, ya’ll!
Thanks so much, Rita. Butch said they were speaking of the erosion when we were in Newport in 2016. I didn’t remember that. Be glad you don’t deal with fire ants.
It’s so wonderful to see the magic of Mother Nature at work leaving signs of Spring and new growth everywhere! Your snowball viburnams are going to be a spectacular show when they turn! The azalea is out in full force in South Alabama and the pollen is thick. I wish you both a wonderful week ahead as we say goodbye to March and head into April!
Jenna
The pollen was extreme here today and my allergies have already taken notice. Enjoy the beach, Jenna!
Take care, I’ve been sneezing a lot too!
Good morning, Pam and Butch. Isn’t Nature marvelous? You have captured some lovely things. Trilliums are a favorite of mine and our mountain areas are covered with them around mid-May, depending on the weather.
And, yes I know all about fire ants. Thankfully we do not have them in WV(that I am aware of) but Mississippi had them in abundance. They were everywhere.
Wishing you and your lovely family a beautiful day and week ahead.
Thank you, Sandra. I know since you have experienced fire ants, you are thankful not to deal with them in WV. Wishing you a delightful week!
Beautiful shots Butch and Pam. We’ve had frost advisories the past 2 nights. Our daffodils are up though and undeterred. We’re also seeing tulips. Hopefully the buds won’t be nipped but our tulip magnolia blooms were ruined earlier due to another cold snap. The colors in your area are remarkable and the waterfall is fabulous! Those ant hills are everywhere in our area too. They can ruin your day for sure! We enjoyed the stroll. Hope you enjoy this gorgeous day! Clara❤️
Thanks so much, Clara. We were supposed to have frost this morning,
but we didn’t. Wishing you a wonderful week ♥️
Thank you for another Sabbath insight to nature’s bounty, Butch. Being enabled to view in closeup what one might rarely see, is a blessing, indeed. How fortunate you and Pam are to be surrounded by such beauty and how generously you share it.
I was stunned by the image of the branch of thorns and your comment, for it was such a crown that pierced the brow of our Lord. A profound Lenten lesson. To cap it all, a resurrected memory of the architectural gem that is Newport… times spent
there remain a treasure trove of wide-eyed impressions. I’ll limit my spring cleaning to our humble abode, thank you.
Blessed Sunday.
Thank you, Mary for your heartfelt comments. I would love for you to share your Newport memories!
Good Morning Pam. What beautiful places and pictures. Oh my gosh had to smile to see the special den that the squirrel made. Even our little friends in nature are DIY decorators! Happy Sunday have a great start to the new week.
Kris, that is funny about the DIY squirrel!
A lovely walk where nature seems to be starting to provide a little show. Love the native mountain azaleas blooming,
Thanks so much, Karen!
What beautiful photos of spring. Your squirrel entrance made me think about the tree in the front yard of our previous home. The squirrels would run in and out of the den, and they would seem to watch us as much as we watched them out of our front window. They were so entertaining. Have a great week ahead.
Thank you, Pam. It really is fun to watch wildlife. Have a great week!
Such a lovely walk!!! Thank you for sharing all these incredible photographs with us, Pam and Butch!! Blessings, Barb ☺️💕
Thank you and blessings for your week!💗
Loved this walk with you Butch. I miss Spring in the South. I don’t miss the fire ants though. I’ve been bitten and it was painful and long lasting. We don’t have them here thank the Lord. Have heard it’s to cold for them and almost to cold for this southern girl. A crown of thorns worn by our Savior. They should be eradicated .
Thank you, Alice. The fire ants are tortuous, and yes their bite is long lasting. Wishing you a lovely week!
Love your beautiful ramble in the out of doors – thanks for taking us along! Hope you’re having a lovely weekend!
Thanks so much, Barbara! Wishing you a lovely week…
Unfortunately, we have Fire Ants here in Queensland, Australia now & a concerted effort is being made to eradicate them by that state govt but I think it’s a losing battle as they have been found in other states 🤔
Lovely walk today,
Blessings, Jennifer
My husband said he had read about them in Australia. Thank you dear friend 🥰
A wonderful post for this Sunday! Wishing you both a blessed and beautiful week ahead!
Thank you dear friend!
Good morning! Butch’s walk answered so many questions for me this week! Trilliums, who knew (besides Butch!)? Fire ants are a huge problem here, they can take down a calf. And being bitten takes weeks to heal. Years ago our vet told us to treat the entire yard which greatly helped, now I just spot treat. We had a church retreat this weekend, and I attempted to channel my best Pam as I was asked to do flower arrangements for all the tables! It was a wonderful, refreshing time for my heart and soul.
Thank you, Roxanne. Those fire ants are horrible. I know your arrangements were beautiful and so glad you had a time of refreshment, we all need that!
Hello Friends… once again I am tardy… but I know you both will forgive me.
I enjoyed seeing Spring popping up all over your area.
We don’t have Fire Ants here in AZ or in Pennsylvania… and I’m so glad!
Thank you for the lovely stroll!
Happy new week to you both!
Thank you, Nancy. You are never tardy, I just love to see you here whenever you can make it🥰
I do so love Butch’s walk-abouts – so many lovely things to see. The waterfall is so pretty and the viburnums are going to be gorgeous when they bloom! Mr. Chipmunk is so cute too! So nice to see that its spring there. We’re a bit away here yet, but I did hear our first robin yesterday so there’s hope. Wishing you both a lovely week!
Thanks so much, Kim. I hope spring comes your way soon!
Your knowledge of plant names is so impressive! The other day, my husband and I were talking about a plant, and we didn’t know what it was. I thought of you and told my husband that you would know what it is! LOL! I so enjoy reading about your walks in the woods and the plants and things you come across. God bless you and your family!
Thanks for taking time to walk with us! God bless you and your family!
All that new life just fills me with joy! Soon we’ll have it here; till then I rejoice in yours!
Hope spring comes soon for your Jeanie!