Monday, April 30, 2012

April Productions

The wild woodland flowers of April bloomed early due to our very warm month of March.



Some early wildflowers prefer sunny areas...unlike the fern in the shady woods.
The bamboo is growing with a vengeance and the clouds and flowers are creating hearts.



April brought it's showers of course....


....keeping me inside half the time....
while the dogwood and apple trees bloomed.

The Dogwoods were heavy with blooms this year.


I took early morning walks past the apple trees in the field and on one rainless day planted three pink rose bushes.



While planting the roses...
I found this heart-shaped rock in the ground 8 inches down.
It's 3" x 3" and just over 1 inch thick.



The smaller red flowers between the roses are fire-pinks I transplanted from the woods.


Several wildflowers have  found their way to my flower garden on their own.
Multiplying over the years!



The Robins are doing their share of multiplying...with nests in the open garden shed, in the forsythia and on top of an old ladder hanging on a hook in the barn!



Here's multiple meals made during the past weeks.


A few desserts were enjoyed....along with fresh strawberries form the store.


We have strawberry plants blooming and dandelions going to seed!



On this sunny morning, the last day of April....the Japanese Iris bloomed.
Maybe May will get back to being as warm as March was and I can get back to hanging clothes out to dry in the breeze....and..... 



...Alivia can get back out to some more of her hammock time! 

41 comments:

Claudia said...

It's so wonderful to see color again, isn't it? Love your walks. Enchanted by the foods! I'm also hoping that May is as warm as Mach was... because April got chilly!

Lois Evensen said...

Your home is so lovely and in such a beautiful setting. Love your flowers and your fabulous looking meals! Thank you for the update from your place.

All the best,
Lois

Gail said...

Hi Wanda - oh how I love your nature-land in Spring time - our walk today was lovely, the scents, and sights and sounds - breath taking. And of course, those meals and deserts - decadent. :-) Please come see me some time. I miss you.
Love Gail
peace.....

Sharon Wagner said...

So green! And I love finding nests. How sweet.

liZZie said...

Stunning photographs of such a beautiful location. I see your blooms are ahead of mine now. There's so much here that is a feast for the eyes but this time it's the Robin's eggs I love the most.

Tracy said...

My Wanda,
Have you been busy girl! I will take any one of those desserts, please and thank you!
Seriously, the flowers are gorgeous and so glad you've been out and about enjoying God's works of art!

Dee said...

Mt timing was just right for a walk in your beautiful woods...The dogwoods are fairy like and the blue of the Robbins eggs are magnificent. I am never disappointed spending time in your woods....♥

Debra said...

Hello!
I always love visiting you. I was looking over your scrumptious meals~they look as pretty as the flowers!
Love the hearts you find....

Breathtaking said...

Hello
I found a stone shaped like a heart
several weeks ago and thought of you and your blog.I gave the heart to my husband,and he was thrilled.

The Dogwood is so pretty,and all the spring flowers too.The Robins
eggs are a gorgeous colour,and all your meals look deliceous.A feast for the eyes!!

George said...

Very beautiful, as always, Wanda.

Rebecca said...

I had a REAL hard time waiting for this post, Wanda! I was NOT disappointed. We kind of missed the dogwood blooming on our trip south...and the redbuds too. We were too late this year.

It turned very cold here after early warm days. It's hard to figure out what to do in the yard/garden...

Oh, well. I drove in rain today to IL where I'm going to be speaking to a ladies' group and visiting my son and his family overnight. Drove in rain all day.

Guess I'll have to wait awhile for MY "hammock time".

Pictures of your food make me hungry. I'm taking grandsons out for pizza tonight and plan to have the salad bar....

Have a cheerful May, Wanda.

Penny said...

So lovely to see flowers. Here autumn is slowly turning into winter, what leaves are left after a very dry summer are dropping. Paddocks are being seeded and are gradually turning green, the fire in the house has been going for two weeks. I am making soup and baking.

Connie Arnold said...

I'm pleased to discover your blog and am following. Beautiful photos!

Jackie said...

I love the groupings of your photos, Wanda. The lavender colors are so pretty!
I transplant flowers from our woods, too. Isn't that a lovely way to spread the beauty! I'm going to transplant some bay trees this fall. I have my eye on several of them.
Even the dandelions show themselves beautifully, don't they? Thank you for capturing the beauty of your spring. I look forward to each of your blogs.
Love you,
Jackie

Elaine said...

Love your collage of Alivia! Your spring flowers are just gorgeous, and such a welcome sight to see! Our snow is gone, except for a few patches here and there, and a few green shoots are popping out of the ground, but the lawn is still dried and brown and no flowers at all yet. I've seen Juncos and Robins in our yard this last week, so they will be busily building their nests.

Thyra said...

Hello Wanda!
I have been looking for your next post - and here it is - as beautiful as ever. Those spring flowers are absolutely amazing.
You have such beautiful surroundings, it must really be an inspiring place to live.
I love your collages, Wanda, you are so good in making these collages of nature, like the look up to the sky through the tree tops - and the food collages UHMMM! Double Uhmmm! Now I'm hungry again after having seen those meals! and those delicious desserts.

You must be the best grandmother to visit for Alivia.
Thank you for an inspiring tour in your little paradise on earth.

I think it's a special thing that you always find a heart.

Have a nice day!
Grethe ´)

DJan said...

Oh, GASP! How very beautiful. I love the dogwoods, but the blue eggs just took my breath away. Thank you for this inspiring and gorgeous post.

Jenean said...

Love the bird nests!

Anonymous said...

Your spring wild flowers are just beautiful!! and all the domestic flowers are so pretty as well as the Red Buds and Dogwoods! Beautiful post....and the food! OH! the food, looks mighty yummy to me!! ...debbie

Rowan said...

What wonderful wild flowers, of course some of your 'wild' flowers are sold in our garden centres for vast sums of money:) All that fabulous food has made me feel hungry but the star of the show is that nest with the beautiful turquoise blue eggs inside.

Loree said...

Those desserts look delectable. They are making me hungry. Lovely flowers and gorgeous Nature all around you Wanda.

Montanagirl said...

Beautiful post! It's still a bit chilly here and always windy!

Arkansas Patti said...

It is always such a treat to see that you have posted.
I love how you have let the wildflowers volunteer.
You have such a beautiful place to enjoy. Thank you for letting us enjoy also.

stardust said...

Hi, Wanda! What a good timing! I’ve found your new post when my mother left hospital a day before and I can share the joy of your moments in a relaxed way. All your seasons are beautiful but spring is the best with wild flowers in my impression. (Maybe I might say summer is best on seeing the summer post.) Your home is so lovely surrounded by the woods, kind of my dream house. No wonder you get inspired to create such a lovely post like this and to cook. We seem to share the same condition of the season: dogwood as popular landscape trees in Japan are blooming here and there in my neighborhood and my strawberry plants are flowering, too. You made me feel like sitting on the bench by the lattice and strolling around the area in person. Have happy and peaceful days ahead, Wanda.

Yoko

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Oh my goodness glory girl, your pictures and your flowers are beautiful!

Yes...it's so good to see color again. Brown is not my favorite color!

I worked in my roses after I mowed this mornin'. I have 38 rose bushes ya know.

God bless and have a blissful day sweetie!!!

Thanks for sharin' your bloomers! Heeehehe!

Julie G. said...

Wanda, you most definitely have one of the most resplendent blogs around. Your glorious photographs show off the loveliness of spring beautifully. Each and every photograph is stunning! Oh how you must delight living on your gorgeous acreage. Not only are you a fantastic photographer and writer, but an awesome chef. Those meals look delectable. Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

summer is so close around the corner, maybe more visits from Alivia? I really need to update my blog. I fnally took some pictures this past week. (sigh) it is just so hard to begin again once so much time has past. But please know that I stop by and check several times a week to see if you have posted! hugs ...

Maria said...

Hi Wanda!
Your home and grounds are so lovely in every season!
I am especially admiring your photos of the robins eggs. We have a nest on our porch again... I'm thrilled ♥
It was such a joy for me to see the robins build, protect and nurture...and then to see the babies fly on their own.
Your baking and cooking look amazing as always,
I'm wishing you a beautiful May ~
blessings always,
Maria

Susan Blake said...

Hi Wanda! What heavenly photos! Talk about capturing nature - wow! I love this time of year - seeing the colors, textures and surprises that have been sort of hidden from us for months. I just put a hammock on my list for this summer - thanks for the reminder! :)
Hugs
SuZen

Debra said...

...just stopping by to say howdy. Hope all is well...

alexis nicole said...

I dream of a house like yours, tucked away beneath the trees. The robin eggs, lovely flowers, and the food. You make my heart happy:).

Diana said...

Everything is looking beautiful Wanda. I hope you will be able to do some walking through he woods soon.
Love Di ♥

Jenny said...

What a glorious walk through the wonder that is your yard!

Thanks for letting us tag along! Absolutely lovely!

Hope everyone is well there!

Debra said...

Dear Wanda~ First I want to say how sorry I am about your husband's gout pain. My husband has the same thing-in his toes. Can I tell you about a natural cure that works? Cherries. If you can get frozen cherries, they work, and get the natural all juice cherry drink. No sugar or other juice added. If you look this up on the Web, you'll find some documentation about how effective it is. My husband was facing taking the med because his uric acid was so high (from another med he is on). I'm guessing your hubby is already on a medication, but if you incorporate cherries EVERY DAY,(about 5 or 6) and about 6 ounces of juice-he may be able to off the med and be pain free. It worked for Geoff-he has NO PAIN.

It is very hard, but also very humbling to be in pain. It has given me a new perspective-just having this back trouble.

Please let me know how things progress.
Love, Debra

Vagabonde said...

Beautiful post as always Wanda. Your food looks delicious and makes me hungry – I need to find something for this evening meal. By now your garden must have many flowers blooming. It will be fun to see what flowers you will show us next.

Christine said...

How Beautiful! I love all the soft, lovely colors of these pretty blooms. Hope you're having a great week. Hugs!

Debra said...

Hello~
I sure hope your husband is feeling better....
Wishing you a lovely weekend!

Jann said...

Hi Wanda, I'm way behind in viewing your latest post but I'm really enjoying it while sitting at the Phoenix, AZ airport way ahead of our flight to Hawaii...missed our plane yesterday and the stress and disappointment is catching up to me today...I know all will be fine...anyway, love seeing the flowers; am familiar w/ the spiderwort and larkspur from SD days. Love seeing the meals and the sweet parting pic of Alivia too! Thanks for the needed cheer! :o) Aloha!

Eileen said...

It feels good to be visiting back in this oh-so-peaceful place.
Beautiful photos here, and I read back a little and I'm awestruck by the beauties in your family too. Your granddaughter is an outstandingly beautiful bride. Thanks for posting the pictures of the wedding.

I know you must be sad to have her move away. Must be so bittersweet, so happy to have the couple share their new beginning, but their beginning means an ending of some things for you too.

Sorry to read that your husband hasn't been feeling well, I hope that situation changes.
I think of you often, Wanda. And I've missed coming here, and I miss blogging, but I just haven't felt much like getting on the computer.
Lots of disharmony here in my neck of the woods, and I'm ashamed to admit that I blew my top over something trivial really, and I just compounded a bad situation and made it even worse.

Be well, Wanda.
Love and Prayers,
Eileen

Barb said...

Hello Wanda, I missed your post while I was on my travels. Your property was so green and full of blooms a month ago. Those OH robins are prolific! I hope Alivia has spent lots of time swinging and daydreaming in that hammock. I'm wondering what that delicate red star-shaped wildflower is?

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