spring blooms

Mom, this post is for you, as you are the one who inspired my love for nature in the first place. I have always loved spring, especially as I get to enjoy so many beautiful flowers. It is like searching for a lost treasure when I start to see the fresh green growth and go on my springtime walks to find the beautiful dainty flowers.

earth day

What a beautiful Earth Day. It is so wonderfully warm and sunny, and we all enjoyed working outside today. We fixed the kids play area, edged around some trees, graded the driveway, weeded the garden....perfect weather.  My children have a habit of ditching their shoes, and off they came today. Even Claire discarded her rubber boots after learning how to go down a slide for the first time. I gave up trying to keep them on and decided I could wash everything later. We found creepy crawlies under a board and the kids enjoyed learning their names and even held a few (without squashing them).  Here are a few pictures from the day.

my tiny helper

she's smiling :-)

grape hyacinth

yellow daffodil

red tulips

playing in the sun

Frederick holding a tiny snail

big worm

centipede

the tiny snail up close

mr. armadillo bug

nature walk 2

I grew up going on nature walks all the time with my mom, so part of me feels like it isn't really spring unless we are watching the changes in nature closely. I once even considered becoming a park ranger because I loved it so much (that was when I wanted to be a recluse and live in the Smoky Mountains too.) Now I get to be the guide for my kids. We were at my parents today and went on a walk. They have the same wildflowers I posted before, so I won't duplicate, but they had some not found at my place. It was a beautiful sunny spring day, a little cool, and the kids did good job of being quiet so as not to scare the wildlife.

Canada Violet

Mustard

Blue Phlox

The Spring 

The Trail

Mossy roots 

Carpet Bugleweed "Ajuga"

Large White Trillium

Wild Geranium

Virginia Creeper

Rattlesnake Fern

Elauna and Frederick

nature walk

Toadshade Trillium

Downy Yellow Violet

Spring Beauty

White Phlox 

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Mayapple

Common Blue Violet

Golden Ragwort

Elauna and Frederick

Confederate Violet 

Dandelion

My Handsome Frederick