april showers & flowers...

Well, Spring has officially sprung in my neck of the woods!

They {the woods} are just bursting with new life!

I always anxiously await the appearance of my favorite little woodland flower -

Dutchman's Britches {or Breeches actually but we always pronounced it the other way}.

They are related to Bleeding Hearts which I've always been fond of as well. Note how the middle stem is slightly more pink that the others & these blooms have the slightest pink tinge as well. Interesting, n'est-ce pas?

When I was a little girl I thought they were called London Bridges & figured these sweet flowers must be what that song was all about! ;)

Don't they just look like little fairies' drawers hung out to dry?

 

Here is a wee "forest" of May Apples 

like so many little umbrellas opening to shield small animals from Spring showers. 

Next month they will have a little fruit (hence their name) under their foliage.

The fruit is edible, though I never have tried. Maybe I will this year! I have a field guide on edible wild plants for my area, and they suggest making a jam or jelly from them.
It's worth a try!

 



 

I ventured deeper into the woods to get some more photos.

One must wear their wellies this time of the year! 



 

I believe these are called Bloodroot. 

They are named this because the liquid inside their stem is red at the root. I'll have you know I had to get a little to close for comfort to a spider to get that shot, so you had better enjoy it!

You're welcome. ;)

 

To my extreme delight, while I was deep in the forest, it started to rain ever so softly.

 



There was no way I could capture the pure enchantment of the sweet Springtime shower with photos alone. Thankfully my camera also has a video option! So here is my first attempt as a videographer. :)
 

 

 



 

If you look closely at the photo above you can see a bumblebee enjoying something sweet from a Dutchman's Breeches bloom. Bumblebees are such cute little fuzzy creatures. I had the hardest time getting a pic of the little stinker! As soon as I got close enough for a good shot she was off again buzzing near & far. Mostly far because I lost sight of her after this shot was taken.

 

~*~

 

These next photos were taken a day later around the yard.

That morning we were blessed with another lovely April shower that moved on as quickly & quietly as it had appeared and left a glorious sunshiny day. I was even able to hang out my wash!

That sort of weather always makes me think of the song Perfect Day

from The World of Peter Rabbit & Friends. I actually found a CD of that soundtrack on eBay. It came free with a VHS of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. I just love the music from those sweet cartoons so I was elated to find it. {For a great deal too which always makes me happy!}



 

 

Beautiful cherry blossoms against a blue sky.

This is an old cherry tree & the cherries are quite too high to reach.

They're very small too so they'd be quite a chore to pit with not much to show for you efforts.

The birdies put them to good use though! :)

The tree grows right by the chicken pen so whatever cherries happen to fall to the ground are immediately devoured by a frenzy of squawking foul.

It's more entertaining than most things on the telly I can assure you! ;)

 



 

These daffodils above were a birthday gift last year from my dear friend Taylor Ella.

She knows that daffs are my favorite Springtime bulb. They're just so sunshiny!

 

 

These little wild violets grow simply everywhere around our yard in the Spring.

 



 

These little cuties are now on my bedside table.

 

"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD.

His going forth is as certain as the dawn;

And He will come to us like the rain,

Like the spring rain watering the earth."

Hosea 6:3

{NASB}

 

~*~

 

Also, I was featured on the Modest Fashion Network again - this time front and center!
You can read the post here.

Thank you MFN!

~*~

 

What's your favorite Springtime flower?

 

Do you enjoy a lovely April shower?

 

Have you seen those Beatrix Potter cartoons?

 



{Photos by Yours Truly}