“Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”
Psalm 33:8-9 ESV
Welcome to my morning! I am hoping you can enjoy a fresh start to your day regardless of the time or hour you find yourself at this moment. This particular day last week started off cool with a temp of about 40 degrees, and since I wasn’t dressed for the occasion, I moved along rather quickly. April has been cooler than normal here in the foothills!
The lance-leafed coreopsis has taken the wildflower garden by storm. All the buds you see will be blooms in a day or two. It has really been a standout so far this spring.
We are always watching and waiting for the bristly locust to appear, typically in April. I had given up on seeing it this month but was pleasantly surprised to discover it in bloom along the woods edge where I usually find it.
The bristly is a wild native locust that is very eye catching. There were a number of new small plants noticeable this year so I plan to dig a couple and see if they will withstand a transplant to the edge of another wooded area closer to the house. An experiment I suppose, but it won’t hurt to try! It is a shrub and considered by some to be invasive…so maybe I won’t bring it too close. There are plenty of new young plants to go around and some will be vulnerable to mowers when the road shoulders are mowed later in the season. I will dig from those that have ventured too far onto the highway right of way!
Sweet EM was excited for little brother WL as family gathered at her house to celebrate his second birthday. She is a very protective and attentive big sister. We were reminded that she would also be celebrating her birthday in a couple of weeks. No danger of us forgetting. We may be a bit forgetful but there are some things grandparents will certainly remember!
From early spring until late autumn, a walk along one of the local wildlife/bird sanctuary trails will always produce things of interest and beauty. It really changes quickly and a trip every week would be nice if I had the time to visit that often. Retired people don’t have much spare time! The yellow flag iris is by some accounts considered an exotic in our state. I can only assume that finding it here means that it did escape from a garden in the vicinity? Some consider it invasive, but I think it adds a lot to a late April walk along the lake!
Sometimes called water flag, it is definitely an aquatic iris!
This is the latest version of fly fishing. You might catch one if fish learn to fly. While this is not mine, it reminded me of many of my fishing trips. Maybe the angler was looking back at the irises and not watching where to cast! Some southern fishermen have told me that if you ain’t gettin’ your line hung up a lot, you ain’t fishin’! Maybe so, but I don’t think they were referring to trees.
I like to jog along this boardwalk but this day was only a walk with a camera. There is always something interesting along the way…
…like this guy who had found his place in the sun. Pam commented that the feet look prehistoric!
I liked the reflection better than the real turtles. I also figured this was a family. Maybe mom with her two young ones, an older boy and his little sister? I took liberty in making up my own story. I trust you do see the little sister?
30 years ago most folks would have been excited to see a Canada goose. Now that they have taken over parking lots, golf courses, roadsides, ponds, fields, and many lawns, the excitement has changed to frustration for some people. Nevertheless, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity for a nice photo op. I think the young are called goslings? A nice family outing on the lake!
Blackberries are all around and decked out with white blooms so I thought this was just more of the same. But something about the blooms and vines looked a little different as I passed by. This is probably a multiflora rose? If so, it is not native and was introduced as an ornamental many years ago, but soon escaped cultivation. It would be considered invasive. I understand roses are very hard to figure out and there are many hybrids around. Maybe some of you have some insight on this one?? It was growing wild along the lake, but not in a spot that stays wet most of the time. Our sawtooth blackberry blooms don’t have petals that are shaped like these which seem almost heart-shaped to me? What do you think? As a side note; blackberries are in the rose family, so maybe that does explain the similarities.
Mocking birds have hundreds of top of the line nesting sites available around the yard and other parts of the garden. But, did they choose one of those locations to build…of course not. A pair insists on building in a place where we don’t need, or desire to have a nest. So, I had a great idea. I would remove the nesting material at the end of the day on Monday and this would discourage them, causing them to relocate. However, on Tuesday, much to my surprise, the nest was back under construction. After the same routine on Wednesday and Thursday, I decided it was time to implement another “great idea”. The hole the birds have made in the shrub as they’ve gone in and out is now occupied by my metal garden lizard! Will this work? I will let you know.
Pam’s mom has been in heaven for 16 years (as of yesterday), but her striped lilies that she planted many years ago still burst forth every April to celebrate her, reflect her beauty, and offer fond memories. Amazingly, the lilies have had little care and attention since April of 2007, but they still take the spotlight by her front porch each year!
My throwback today is a beautiful scene from May of 2020…north Georgia’s Gibbs Gardens. Pam and I highly recommend a visit. It is a nice day trip for us and it’s our plan to return soon. We last visited in the fall of 2021.
April is a favorite month but it is time to say farewell! Welcome May.
Have a blessed week!
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch,Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
I enjoyed all the scenery from your walk. Your photographs are always interesting and the Bible verses are precious. The picture of the boardwalk is my favorite. What a nice place to walk and see the beauty of nature. Thank you!
Thank you, Mrs. White!
Pam
I look forward to your posts every Sunday. The beauty you share is a nice way to start my day and I love seeing your precious grandchildren.
You are so sweet, Beverly. Thank you!
Pam
Numbers 6 I send to you this beautiful morning. It’s one I send to my daughter often. What a beautiful world we live in as shown by your pictures Butch, the turtle family and goose family are so reflective of how our God cares for his creatures. I hear lots of complaints here in Colorado regarding the Canadian goose. Did you ever read Chesapeake by James Michener? You will never ever look at a goose in the same light.
Happy birthday to WL snd EM.
Thanks so much, Alice. Butch or I have never read the Michener book, but maybe we should! Happy May!
Pam
Beautiful flowers, and those turtles are sweet. Yes, I see the little sister. Birds can be very persistent when it comes to choosing a nesting site. I have a yearly battle with a Carolina Wren who wants to build on our veranda in one of the plant pots. Your only recourse, if the little frog doesn’t work, is to put fine mesh netting over the shrub for a week or so until they choose another nesting site. Although, sometimes hanging something reflective (like a worn out audio cd) in the open spot works too.
Thanks for the idea of a worn out cd! Happy May!
Pam
What a beautiful Sunday Stroll. I enjoyed seeing Pam’s Mom’s lily… that warmed my heart. And seeing your oldest little also warms my heart.
Happy Birthday to the youngest and the oldest very soon!
Pretty pictures… the boardwalk and turtles are quite lovely.
Thanks for your Sunday Morning Stroll! Have a beautiful week to come!
Thank you always for your visits, Nancy! Happy May !
Pam
Happy birthday to WL and EM in 2 weeks. Her gingham check seersucker dress is adorable. Love the geese and turtle shots. Your lizard looks like he’s playing hide and seek. He looks cute with his head sticking out of the shrub. That red striped lily is gorgeous. The wild flowers are pretty as well. Enjoy your day! Clara ❤️
Thanks so much Clara. Happy May ♥️
I have so enjoyed the scripture and beautiful photographs of nature this morning. A perfect start to the day! I can’t believe this is the last day of April. Wishing you both a most wonderful day and week ahead!
Thank you, Shannon. Have a wonderful week!
Pam
Your post are always so encouraging, and the photos are spectacular. Yes Grandparents always remember those special celebrations.
Thank you of sharing.
Sue
Thanks so much, Sue!
Pam
Such a lovely stroll, so many beautiful flowers! I love the lily and the sweet memories it brings you both. That is too funny about your metal garden lizard, when I first saw it I thought you put it there as a fun surprise for your grands! Happy Birthday to WL and EM, such cuties they all are! Happy Sunday and have a wonderful first week of May!
Jenna
Thank you, Jenna! Enjoy your week.
Pam
So much to love here — especially EM’s pretty checked gingham dress and all those dazzling blooms! Isn’t spring grand?
Spring has been beautiful! Thank you, Jeanie.
Pam
What a captivating journey today ‘s stroll has been… the nature photos are unique in their perspective..you click at the right angle and moment…the turtles and geese. Happy Birthday to the Grands..bless them. Pam’s Mom have left such a rich legacy of memories and gifts of self..she continues to live… Your original Gibbs Gardens photo were so impressive, I recognized today’s without seeing the I.D. Just love the whimsy of the garden lizard…hope it works. Chuckled at your fly fishing quip… I am now departing through the coreopsis bed and down that beckoning boardwalk path….sigh….what a lovely Sabbath pause you have provided …blessings +
Thank you, Mary. Your comments always bring a smile!
Pam
Your post is so interesting to me today because I’ve encountered several items on your observations just this week! I was reading WV DNR’s Dirty Dozen of invasives, including the multiflora rose and yellow lily (#1? Kudzu). I encountered a blooming wild locust on my walk, as well as turtles along the edge of our river, basking on a rock (your picture is very cool with the reflection). So far no baby goslings, but yes, the Canada geese have always been my nemesis (thankfully not in this current landscape of mine). Pam’s mother died just a few short months after my own. Hard to believe it’s been 16 yrs. How wonderful seeing her striped lily as a bittersweet reminder at this time of year. Happy birthday to WL, and soon to be EM!
Thanks so much, Rita. I can believe Kudzu being the #1 invasive. Oh those Canada geese make the biggest mess. With all the lakes and river in our area, they are everywhere. Don’t we miss our mothers?
xoxo, Pam
Happy Birthday to EM and WL! Wonderful post, dear friends. Blessings.
Thank you, Maristella!
Pam
Happy Sunday and Almost May! Spring is bursting forth, and Butch found so many beautiful examples. Happy Birthday to WL and upcoming for Queen EM! We are floating away here (5” of rain on Friday and more this morning), but everything is a glorious green!
Thank you so much, Roxanne. Happy May, friend!
That little turtle’s feet do look prehistoric! EM looks adorable as always. Glad she was having fun celebrating her little brothers birthday. I bet she is excited for her upcoming birthday too. Love seeing all your beautiful spring flowers. We are just starting to bud here in the midwest. Happy Sunday.
Kris, I am so happy you are seeing spring. Thank you so very much!
It’s all so beautiful! The Canadian geese in Fairhope have been “relocated” several times. We don’t really know what that means, but one politician got an earful years ago and now, it’s done in the cloak of secrecy. The geese were truly making a nasty mess and taking over the park areas in town. I’m terrified of them. HONK! HONK! – but they are really pretty. Ahhhh. Nature. Can’t live with it, can’t shoo it away. Thanks for the dose of beauty.
Oh my those Canada geese are messy! No one in our city has relocated any of the geese. Happy May!
Your photos are always so gorgeous and I loved “joining” you on your walkabout Butch! The lilies are so pretty and what a sweet reminder of Pam’s mom. Oh, those Canada Geese. When I was a little girl they would fly south for the winter and return in the spring and what a mess of the parks they made! Does this mean they have permanently relocated south? Those grands are a-growing and happy birthday to both WL and EM! Wishing you both a wonderful first week of May!
Thank you, Kim for your sweet comments. I think they moved in down here permanently!
Pam
I love your granddaughter’s little dress, if they only made it in adult sizes!
Yes, I would love a dress like that!
It is just precious that your Mom’s flowers are still blooming each spring. I can only imagine how much comfort that must bring to you. God bless you all!
Thank you and may God bless you and family!