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Sunday, April 19, 2009

Weekend Snapshot and Nature Notes - A little bit of this and a little bit of that

The oak catkins or pollen bombs are not something I've paid much attention to beyond dreading sinus headaches. However, I started to realize how elegant they are against the sky.
The shot above was taken Friday and the shot below was taken when the catkins were beginning to form ten or so days ago. Some of the other oaks in my yard have already dropped the catkins and formed leaves.
The shot below shows my red azaleas against the oak leaves on my tree that has already dropped its catkins and leafed out. I love the diversity this time of year where some trees and plants are just starting to bud and bloom and others are finished blooming and leafing out. So much variety.
The way the light played around the canadian goose reminded me of the old Disney Films where you knew magic was happening by the twinkling lights.
I've noticed the ducks and geese spend more time in the protected areas around the lakes and streams this time of year. Later in the spring they get very loud when I am too close to their protected spots. I assume that is when the new babies are starting to arrive.My azalea wall below, which provides privacy for one section of my secret garden, is always among the last azaleas to bloom. It is funny to me how it's blooming from the bottom up. Still lots of buds not even close to opening near the top.
My hostas below opened over night going from the tightly coiled spikes jutting out of the ground to the full leaves which will then have spikes of flowers in May sometime.
I also love to watch the ferns unfurl their leaves, almost in slow motion. If I walk outside each morning and put together those memories I can see them unfurl before my very eyes.The variegated periwinkle below was started in part from clippings someone gave me at a party years ago. I admired it and they said, take some but be careful, it will take over. I don't mind it taking over under my oak trees, to a large extent.
I took the shot below at Sertoma Park which is above Shelley Lake where I shot the geese. I like the way there are trees at the very beginning of forming new leaves and then behind them are trees that have completely leafed out.
Since there is a path very near my house which leads through the woods and then around Shelley Lake, I rarely drive to Sertoma Park and take the paths which lead down to the lake from the opposite side to where I live. Because I haven't been in my walking groove, I decided to drive to the park. I was glad I did because the path from the park to the lake has its own charm. That path is shown below.
To wrap up these long meandering nature notes, my Pecan tree is beginning to leaf out as shown below.
The last shot is a closeup of the new pecan leaves. They will get much longer and have a different look when mature but I like the way the new, smaller leaves look.For other participants, please visit the home of nature notes, and/or Weekend Snapshot.

30 comments:

laagan said...

I just think that your place must be heavenly when I saw your picture. They are just so wonderful

Juliana said...

There are all great shots ;)

My WS entry this week : in HERE. I hope you have time to visit. Thanks

Heart of Rachel said...

I love how flowers add touches of pretty colors to the surroundings. I wish we had a nearby lake with ducks.

Yen said...

WOW! Those are beautiful photos,Carver! Love them all. Yes, your places looks really lovely with all those nature shots!:)

Ascender Rises Above said...

ferns are great - so fragile! I put up a fern-like plant today too.

milet said...

great, great shotS!

Ebie said...

A lovely place you have Carver. I love the duck photo. It looks very refreshing!

Dee said...

Thank you for taking us on a tour of your "neck of the woods" - loved all of those shots and I can just imagine walking around that lake again! That was pretty cool!

dday said...

great shots! i love the shot where the goose had a twinkling in the water. I love it. o_O so amazed really. have a great week ahead ^_^

Anonymous said...

You have so much greening up and we may have some wet snow this week. Yuck. I see that there are two long Canada geese on the pond which means their mates are sitting on nests. The gander's job is to sit away from the nest to keep the attention off the nest..so I look where they aren't sitting for the nest....Michelle

Mirage said...

Wow! Lots of beautiful flowers but I like the one with red the most!!

juliana said...

a wonderful set of photos again.
i love this time of year, too - it has so much beauty and potential

mousey said...

wonderful spring time!

happy ws carver!

Hazel said...

Like always I love your shots. Loved the canadian goose with the lights and the fern. I like to think its furl is one of mother nature's best displays of artistry.

SASSY MOM said...

Your photos are really refreshing. Have a great week!

Indrani said...

You have lovely shots and you have explained them so well too. Enjoyed them thoroughly.

Anonymous said...

I really envy you with all these lovely sights.

Every corner I turn to, it's just another concrete building. Behind me is just the vast sea.

Have a good week ahead Carver :)

Arlene said...

All are lovely shots, Carver. The one with the red flowers catches my eye. The tree looks elegant right but since it gave me that allergen, i have never tried taking a photo of that tree ever. :)

Happy Monday!

MaR said...

Love your green shots,Carver, and the twinkling lights! Your garden is such a wonderful place.

Daryl said...

I love periwinkle I never realized it was used as ground cover ... great shots all!

Dr.John said...

You are so lucky. It snowed here this morning. It won't stay but it snowed.
Just look at all the wonderful spring plants you have.

SandyCarlson said...

Hosta! Flowers! Greenery! Wow. Love it, Carver.

Carletta said...

Hi Carver,
What a wonderful post of the nature in your part of the world.
I love that goose and the Disney reference is such a perfect thought!
Gorgeous images with the blue sky!

Huzhar said...

Beautiful sets of photos. You are living in such a wonderful world..

Smalltown RN said...

As always you have captured nature at it's finest.....yes it's fun to see the birds keeping close to their nestx....won't be long till they will be gone....boo hoo....thank you for sharing...

Smalltown RN said...

As always you have captured nature at it's finest.....yes it's fun to see the birds keeping close to their nestx....won't be long till they will be gone....boo hoo....thank you for sharing...

Dora said...

Beautiful nature shots! Happy WS!

Voyager said...

What a beautiful garden. These photos transported me there. Thank you.
V.

Amanda Guthrie said...

Amazing nature notes I love how the blue of the sky frames the colors in your tree shots, Interestingly enough I have never seen a pecan tree until now!

Ayie said...

I love the duck, very vivid!