According to the National Day Calendar website, April is National Garden Month, which explains my sudden need to see and enjoy spring flowers after a long, gray winter. It’s a joy to walk on my three-quarter-acre property and discover something new.
“The garden reconciles human art and wild nature, hard work and deep pleasure, spiritual practice and the material world. It is a magical place because it is not divided.” — Thomas Moore
My four raised garden beds contain the promise of tulips, crocus, and daffodils planted last October.
The white crocus emerged on March 29…
… Even the bumble bees are enjoying their fresh nectar.
“The hum of bees is the voice of the garden.” —Elizabeth Lawrence
I spied a tiny praying mantis in last year’s garden!
At about this time last year, we visited the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm near Portland, Oregon. Most of the tulip images you see were taken there. I bought a container of these Pretty Princess Tulips there and carefully followed the directions for saving the bulbs for future planting. I was thrilled to see them emerge last week!
“Watching something grow is good for morale. It helps us believe in life.” — Myron Kaufmann
The Birds are Back!
“If you listen to birds, every day will have a song in it.” —Kyo Maclear
As the flowers grow and begin to bloom, the birds are also back to start nesting!
Last year’s Say’s Phoebes (flycatchers) are back and have already built their nest in the exact same spot (corner of our patio cover). Once we saw the nest construction, I asked Hans to add a small piece of wood (see blue arrow) to the ledge.
Fun at the Feeders
Sharing for Cee’s Flower of the Day (now hosted by her partner, Chris), Dawn’s Spring Festival, Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday, and Lens-Artists: Seen on My Last Outing.
Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders
The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.
- Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
- Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
- Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
- Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
- Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
- I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.
I’m excited to see how you interpret this week’s theme! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme. Join me next week as we explore SHADES OF PURPLE.
Please visit my Sunday Stills page to view the April challenges.
“The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway.” — Michael Pollan
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