Spring is Finally Bustin’ Out All Over

May 1-19,  2022                                                           Most Recent Posts:
Virginia                                         Late April – I Wish it was still a Small Town
                                                Early April – The Best Thing About being Stuck

It feels a bit inappropriate to write about the beauty of spring when horrific mass shootings seem to be occurring weekly in our country whose soul I fear for.  Our democracy is in danger when we want to control the right to vote more than the right to own an assault weapon. NO ONE needs an assault weapon for hunting or self protection.

When 2nd amendment rights mean more than the safety of our children, I despair.  Nature is my salvation.

I know it’s actually summer at this point in real time according to the custom of Memorial Day being the start of the season.   But these pictures are from early May.   I really am trying to catch up to real time.

Winnona and I are still in Virginia but hopefully getting close to the end since I have reservations in the mountains of North Carolina beginning June 1.

May proved true to it’s little rhyme “April showers bring May flowers”.   The temperatures were all over the place starting out in the mid 70’s at the beginning of the month and then fluctuating to mid 90’s and then down to highs in the low 50’s. 

Around the farm, the ephemeral May Apple was in bloom.  You can see the flower, small and white, attached to the stem under the leaf in the picture on above.

Also in the woods, are wild azalea.  Don’t you just love it when beautiful things just show up on their own?

Things were greening up but in early May the fall leaves were still the dominant color in the woods and water was low in the stream.

There is a tiny “swimming hole” that you could sit in as the stream water trickles or tumbles over the rock depending on the volume.  But sit is all you can ever do.  Still it’s calming and serene for sitting beside in meditation.

The fields haven’t been mowed yet and the turkey look like they are neck deep in grass.

The peonies in the yard are just beginning to open.  These were here when we bought the farm 44 years ago.

Peony flowers provide food for ants and in turn, the ants protect the blossoms from other floral-feeding insects.

Not wild but lovely azaleas in bloom by the entry porch.

And the yard is full to over flowing with buttercups which I love and hate to mow.  It’s like a carpet of yellow.

Carrie and David planted this Japanese maple in the yard.  You can see Winnona there in the barnyard in the distance.

The grape arbor was re-constructed in a smaller form for David’s memorial service and the scuppernong grapes look like they will have a good harvest.  Hope I’ll get some this fall.

Iris on the bank beside the farm lane is in full bloom.

Not a frequent visitor but the Indigo Bunting is very noticeable here on the brick walk leading to the farmhouse. 

In the woods, the Mountain Laurel is also in bloom. 
Another of Nature’s gifts.

The blossoms are so delicate.  They delight me every year.

Interesting but not so delightful is Cedar Apple Rust which used to be the bane of the many apple trees we had.  It’s really strange looking.   Now we have only one and David’s not here to cut down the cedars near by.

We have two very old Paulownia trees on the west side of the house.  The master bedroom porch overlooks them.  Given their age and condition, I was asked by the guy who came to trim the pecan, apple and maple trees around the house why I don’t take them down.   Two reasons: I love their purple bell like  flowers and the woodpeckers which love them.  I have Pileated, Downy, and Red Bellied woodpeckers  all the time.

Paulownia are native to the far east and China where they are known as the Empress Tree.  I’ve read they are very invasive but these are the only two I’ve seen over our acres.   The trees can live to be over 200 years old.  I have no idea how old these are but they were fully mature 44 years ago and can stay as long as they want to.  I just hope when they are finished, they fall away from the house.

Just beyond the Paulownia trees out in the field we put a Purple Martin house thinking we might attract martins with the pond.  The house has been there since 1980 but no martins have come to stay.  About that I’m actually glad since I learned during a summer in Chautauqua New York that they are a seriously noisy group.  Many other birds have enjoyed the house including annual nesting by blue birds.

Mrs. Bluebird

and her Mister.

I’ll close with this picture of Winnona who is finally back at her own house which now sports a 30 amp electric hook up.

I hope you’ll take seriously the importance of voting for your senators and congressmen this November.  Please research their stand on gun control measures and vote for the one, regardless of party, who professes to have plans for banning assault weapons, better background checks, and red flag laws at a minimum.  There is no other way to defeat the gun lobby than to vote out their lackeys.