Weekly Photo Challenge: To Spring or Not to Spring…
“The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.” Henry Van Dyke
Weekly Photo Challenge: To Spring or not to spring... Pansies
Weekly Photo Challenge: To Spring or not to spring... budding daffodils
Is it Spring time or not? If you live in my part of the world, my question and Van Dyke’s quote above will resonate deep in your heart. You see, the weather has not been so springlike lately; today it was snowing, sleeting and raining… I stepped out my front door and shook my head as only yesterday, it was fairly bright and sunny.
Thus, the crazy weather makes man and bird hark back for spring time. That said, I did find signs of spring everywhere as I took my camera and ventured out in the foggy, soggy weather. Most shots were taken today. The ducks on the Hudson were taken a week ago. Come back again, I’ll give you a mini back-story when feasible. What is your spring like so far? 🙂
I shot the pansies this afternoon in front of the flower shop on Main Street. They were in a lovely window box and their cheerful colors called out to me. After the shot, I stepped inside and chatted with the ladies and they shared that, typically, crocuses, pansies, daffodils, snowdrops, tulips, hyacinths and ranunculus were the earliest flowers. Hellebores are also winter and early bloomers. The daffodils, still wet from the rains, are yellow when in bloom and occupy the front gardens by my driveway. I have many rows of them that bloom beautifully. I’ll make sure to take a digital picture this year and share them with you.
“Listen, can you hear it? Spring’s sweet cantata. The strains of grass pushing through the snow. The song of buds swelling on the vine. The tender timpani of a baby robin’s heart.” Spring. Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider
Weekly Photo Challenge: To Spring or not to spring... Ducks at a Riverfront Park
Weekly Photo Challenge: To Spring or not to spring... Hellebore in my yard
I photographed the ducks grazing away when I went for a walk at the park. They usually come in pairs or in packs. On that day, the pack was elsewhere and these lovers had the park to themselves. Yes, the Hudson River beckoned… Beautiful place for a walk. The Hellebore is a resilient flowering plant and they are happily blooming in my backyard. I planted them years ago and have them in white too; they bloom sometimes in freezing winter. They are toxic plants so must be handled carefully.
“In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding; Sweet lovers love the spring.” William Shakespeare
Weekly Photo Challenge: To Spring or not to spring... Ranunculus
Weekly Photo Challenge: To Spring or not to spring... White Crocuses
Ranunculus are one of my favorite flowers as they come in magnificent colors that spring at you like psychedelic light bulbs. I tried planting them once but they did poorly in my terrain. They are better in planters and I shot these outside the flower shop today.They were sitting pretty in a container by the entrance. The white crocuses were under a huge tree in front of my home. They looked so serene and beautiful against the tree and should open when the sun shines in a day or two.
“I wandered lonely as a cloud.That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils.” William Wordsworth
Weekly Photo Challenge: To Spring or not to spring... Bleeding heart buds
Weekly Photo Challenge: To Spring or not to spring... Hyacinths
My Bleeding Hearts are abundant bloomers and have seeded everywhere in the front yard. You can’t miss their red shoots and growth. Their unmistakable heart shaped flowers should be in bloom by April. The hyacinths were in a group of four and originally came as a mixed batch with pink and white ones… the tough years have seen the others disappear and I’m glad these purplish blue ones show up every spring.
“Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.” Rainer Maria Rilke
Weekly Photo Challenge: To Spring or not to spring... Japanese Peony buds
Weekly Photo Challenge: To Spring or not to spring... Purple crocus
The Japanese peony flower is huge, white and brightly colored when in bloom. The shoots and bud stems are growing and from the look of it, I might have a generous flowering this season. The lone ranger Crocus was captured a few days ago and although I shot a few more today, the pictures were too fuzzy to add them here. I also have stripped purple ones, from time to time, but competition for them as mid day snacks for the deer is fierce. ;-( I hope you enjoyed your visit. I will update the photos as the flowers bloom. What do you have growing in your garden? Do you have indoor flowers? What type of spring flowers do you like? Do leave me a comment. I’d love to hear your views. Thank you! 🙂
Positive Motivation Tip: Enjoy the coming spring and spread some cheer and color around…
Related Articles
- The weather gods are meanest in the spring (doggonedmysteries.wordpress.com)
- Spring time at the Ranch (karidawn.wordpress.com)
- Spring has sprung! Spring has sprung! (maureenholland.wordpress.com)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: From my personal collection, Spring quotes from Thinkexist and AllGreatquotes
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Elizabeth, I thoroughly enjoyed my leisurely stroll through your budding springtime garden; new life is there, just waiting for some sunshine to burst open the buds into full color! Do you think you could take some shots when that happens? I’d love to take another stroll round your garden then, it will be beautiful seeing the blooms in their full glory!
Thank you so much for sharing your lovely garden.
Yes, Barb, I do promise to add pictures on perhaps another post with the flowers in before and after blooms. I’m glad you brought it up because after writing this post, I started thinking about that… Will keep you posted.
Thanks for your feedback and tip. 🙂
Eliz
LOVELYYY… AMAZING FLOWERS.. SPLY WITH THE MIST ON THEM…
Yeah, the rain drops added anoher bit of coolness to the shots. 🙂 I enjoyed my outing and was pleased with the shots. Sometimes, my camera refuses to cooperate. TY for your comment. 🙂
Eliz
the flowers (and ducks) don’t read any newspapers, don’t watch news on TV – so they are not disturbed enjoying the spring feelings as every year …
The lucky devils… Now imagine how the rest of humanity will handle the chaos if they did? Thanks for your feedback. 🙂
Eliz
Beautiful!
Aww… Thank you! 🙂
wonderful flowers!! the names all sound very harry potter and i totally want to plant some of them here. i wonder which would make it in our climate.
i answered your email yesterday and again this morning, so let me know if you did not receive it!!
What’s your climate like? I bet some of them would thrive but I don’t know… Best to check with your local garden shop. Thanks for stopping in! 🙂
Eliz
Hi. I loveee the flowers! Very pretty! Wish I had a yard! lol…Oh, and I love the ducks!!
Thanks for stopping by… Actually, some of them are potted flowers so you can have blossoms without a garden. Indoor flowers are beautiful and often more manageable too. 🙂
Eliz
How beautiful! I’m touched.
I have growing Hellebore (Christmas rose) in my garden. white and pink colors. Now they are just blooming.
How wonderful and thank you! Those hellebore are tough plants and quite toxic so be careful in handling them. I love the purple ones and the early stage green flowers. 🙂
Eliz
good to know about the toxic part! i prob shouldn’t plant these where the kids can get to them!
Beautiful photos Elizabeth. Yes, it may not feel springlike but you can see the buds and signs all around. I am definitely ready for it.
Thanks for the eye candy!
Yes, as I wrote this post and looked at the collection, I recognized that life was springing up all over the yard. I’m looking forward to seeing them all in full bloom and I will gather the photos too.
Thank you! 🙂
Eliz
Unfortunately I don’t have a garden of any kind. No place to sit outside and enjoy the sun 🙁 I do have flowers in my room at the moment, you can check them out at my blog. I posted a picture of them as this weeks photo challenge. They’re lovely 🙂
I did check out your flowers and they were absolutely beautiful! What a gorgeous bouquet. But, you can have an indoor garden if you have the time and patience to nurture them… Thanks for your feedback Lian! 🙂
Eliz
Beautiful pictures! Our springtime here in Northern New Mexico has been lovely! We had a cold windy day on Tuesday, and yesterday and today have been just wonderful! Warm and sunny… All the bushes and trees have little buds on them and I even saw some fully bloomed Daffodils!
How wonderful… I love New Mexico and one of these days when I unpack my stuff form my move from California, I will find the CD I took of flowers all over Santa Fe. I’m looking forward to seeing more color in my yard and around me.
Thanks for your comment 🙂
Eliz
Great photos! I love how springtime makes everything bright, fun and exciting. Love the ducks! I love it when the ducks chase after me for food. I like to have a little fun too! tee, hee.. 🙂
They chase after you??? Do you find them in the wild or at a public pond? They can be quite forceful so I wouldn’t encourage you to continue… But I did chuckle at the thought of being chased by one Lol! 🙂
Thank you,
Eliz
Yesterday, here in Washington state, it was Full-Monty Spring…
today…cold again, and wet. Bone-chillingly cold.
I love lilacs…if I could figure out a way to keep the suckers down and under control, I would surround my house with acres of lilacs…
blessings,
jane
I love lilacs and have planted many in my garden. They didn’t do too well and I currently have a couple that bloom in the summer time. I love lilacs. 🙂
Thank you,
Eliz
Just rain, wind and cold here on the east coast. My mantra is: Be patient and it will come. Be patient and it will come!
Thanks for sharing your garden!
Amen… I am here on the east coast too and that rain, snow, sleet show really got my goat! Lol! 🙂
Spring is here and summer’s near 🙂
Thanks for your feedback,
Eliz
Eliz
Loved scrolling through the beautiful spring photos, they are beautiful. It brighten my day, after a long hard day’s work. Again, your inspiration is exceptional. Thank you 🙂
Oh Penny,
The sentiments are mutual…. I do hope they all bloom their heads off… Remember we have fierce competition w with our dear so any flowers that grow are a bonus. 🙂
Thanks again for your comment!
Eliz
Beautiful photos! Thanks, Eliz.
Thanks for the feedback Nancy,
Do stop in again to see the magical outcomes. 🙂
Eliz
Perhaps it was a false Spring?
Perhaps indeed it was… But spring has started officially in our area… date-wise but not Mother nature-wise. 🙂
Thanks for your comment PiP!
Eliz
🙂
Good to see you after a long absence Deb. Welcome back!
Eliz
I absolutley love the purples and the yellows!
I stopped for awhile by the Bleeding Heart! It’s cool, I never see such a plant… It’s like anemone, or kind of that… 🙂