Blossoms and Blooms and critters, too

Monday Photo Shoot: Blossoms and Blooms

"Your Monday Photo Shoot: Take a snap of some of the latest blossoms and blooms near you. If for some reason it's still too chilly where you are, one, you have my sympathy, and two, go ahead and use a picture from your archives. But everyone else should go out and take a fresh picture if they can. Let's see what spring looks like here in 2007." John Scalzi

I was able to get home before 5:00 pm today, and so glad I did. I hurried into the house for my camera, eager to get some new springtime photos for today's journal entry.

              

There are a great number of plants blooming, but I'm not going to show them all. However, I did notice the May Apples had flowers... actually, it looks like each umbrella-like MayApple leaf has only one flower blossom. I don't know why, but that's what I see. From past years, I know that from each flower will grow a May apple. When they appear, I will come back and document the event here! I know you can't wait to see it.

                      

Also, these ferns are sprouting up everywhere, which is no surprise since we do have a wooded lot, and there is plenty of shade for these adorable shade lovers. My favorite part of the fern life-cycle is when they first begin to unfurl. If you look very closely to the tiny spiral at the bottom, just right of center, you'll see a young fern not yet unfurled. They are so tender and fragile at this stage, and as they stretch and reach out for the little bit of light that they need, their slender stems and boot-shaped leaves seem to dance and play in the early spring breezes.

                     

My husband planted the Japanese Maple tree about ten years ago. It is so gorgeous this time of year. Usually I don't get pictures of the bright pink blossoms, probably because I'm usually not home when they bloom, and by the time I do get home, it's late and I'm pooped. But today, I was energized by the sun and the warm temperature, and my dogs wanting to run around in the yard. These tiny little blossoms will probably be gone within a few days. So glad I was seeking out the signs of spring this afternoon.

            

Here's a yard shot so you can see the Japanese Maple tree in all its glory, flanked on either side by a dogwood. Below the dogwood on the left you can see my Solomon's Seal growing nicely... they'll be showing off their tiny little bell flowers by next week, I'm sure. I love the lighting in this photo. It's about 5:30 pm here.

                                                       

And wouldn't you know I'd find some insect action on the Azalea bush. Loving little ladybugs!

                              

I had never noticed that wasps enjoyed the flower nectars as much as the honeybees, but apparently they do. I saw more wasps than honeybees today ... I think they mightbe paper wasps, but not sure. Anyone know?

Now, go ahead and do your Blossoms and Blooms entry, then leave alink at Scalzi's By The Way (and here too if you'd like!).

 

 

Tags: Monday Photo Shoot, Blossoms and Blooms, wasps, ladybugs, japanese maple