The Colors of Spring have Arrived in the Hills of WV

We had a mild winter and after a few frosts, that the early buds had to dodge, Spring is here.

The dandelions and violets have arrived and are decorating my yard with their yellow and purple hues. As we drive the country roads, the redbuds and dogwoods brighten the landscape and the Sweet Williams decorate the woodland floors.

This old fella is hiding among the vinca. I believe this is vinca major. It doesn't die out in the winter and in early spring their beautiful purple flowers arrive. But, watch out! They can take over. I just pulled out a ton of these, you couldn't even see the hostas growing among them. But don't worry they keep growing back.

I have four bleeding hearts. This one got stunted a little from the cold weather, but this beautiful, delicate flower is now taking off. 

I have two lilac bushes - a purple and a white one. I love the scent that flows with the breeze and tickles my nose when I stroll through our yard.

I love watching these little creatures grow. They are so amazing!

Here is a field of ferns growing down by our building.

 

Hostas, hostas, everywhere!

It won't be long until my poppies, peonies, snowball bush and irises burst into color.

And check out my sidebar. I am tickled pink with the blurb Homer Hickam wrote about my new MG book, Duck and Cover.

What is bringing color to your yard?

 

A Walk in the Deep, Deep Woods

We went for a walk in the deep, deep woods. The leaf covered ground surrounded us. Squirrels scampered away as we approached. A hidden world coming to life beneath our feet, her treasures waiting to be found.

Watch where you step or you may squish little creatures!

Delicate ferns unfurl, their fuzzy stems coming to life.

I thought I was taking a picture of a may apple, 

but do you see the hidden treasure in the bottom of the picture?

Delicate morsels peeping from beneath the dead forest floor covering.

 

Do you like morel mushrooms? We call them molly moochers.

They are worth the trek into the deep, deep woods.

Don't you agree?

Look What I Found

I've been so busy around here. We are doing a deep clean of the garage. It would be nice just to be able to walk through it without stubbing your toe on something. We have taken 3 loads to the thrift store.

For those of you who don't know, I also write. It is very time consuming, too, just ask my husband.

I finally took a break and went outside. In addition to the weeds that have taken control in a few places, I also found a few other things that seem to have popped up over night.

This is in my blackberry patch:


Filled with these beautiful blue eggs:


My pear tree has little pears, hope a frost doesn't kill them this year:


The ferns are pushing their way up among the rocks and weeds: I love ferns!


These little plants are popping up everywhere. I have to go and pull these up before they get any bigger or they will take over. Their very long roots makes them hard to pull up when they grow larger. They grow fast! Know what they are? Answer at bottom of page.



These purple and pink flowers are everywhere! They spread like crazy! Their name escapes me at the moment.


These peonies will be gorgeous in a few weeks. . . or sooner!


Plants seem to be blooming earlier this year. If we blink an eye, we will miss its beauty.

Answer from question above: Rose of Sharon

What's coming up around your house?

My Poppies are Popping!

We woke up to these this morning!

Aren't they beautiful!

They appear so delicate. They look like they are made of crepe paper.

I never looked at them so close before, notice all the seeds.
That's how these big beauties spread so rapidly.

I got my start of these off of a neighbor a few years back.

When we bought our land around 30 years ago, it was part of an old farm that had been divided up into lots. There was nothing on our little acre. It was all flat (which is very unusual to find in WV) with no trees. It was part of a field up on top of a knoll with a barn at the far end from the road. The barn had been torn down years ago, so I'm told. That's a whole other story in itself that maybe I'll tell you about some day.

I missed the woods. So I eventually started this woodsy area down by our building.

The hostas were given to me by a neighbor years ago, now I have many. The iris's to the left will be white when they bloom, they came from my mother in law. There are many large groupings of lilies, they started from one my mother in law gave to me in a flower pot. I almost let it die before I transplanted it into the ground. Now I have them planted all over my yard.

This pine tree is the only survivor of the little seedlings my kids brought home from school one day. I think the lawn mower got the rest of them. I was excited a few years ago when it had pine cones for the first time.

This little squirrel enjoys his rest on the old log bench.

The bottom of the pine tree looks like its growing in the woods with ferns
and rocks all around it.

I love how my ferns are taking over.

Last year the top of our bird bath crumbled so we got this statue on clearance at the end of
the summer season.

He looks over my little forest and gives it His blessing.

I have lots of little critters scattered about my woods. Birds, turtles, frogs, squirrels and rabbits. Most were got at yard sales for very little.

I call it my woods, so that way I don't have to worry so much about the weeds. They look natural growing among the old stumps, rocks and flowers. Of course, I do have to pull up and keep the peppermint under control, but my ferns can spread out as much as they want. I love the ferns.

I love going down there to sit on the bench and just relax and get away from it all. Do you have a place on your land where you go to relax?