The Watering Hole, Monday, April 25th, 2016: Take a Deep Breath

Old orchard in spring

I know that I’ve trotted out this photo a few times over the years, at least in springtime. But it is one of my favorite pictures, and, well, it’s Spring. Although the apple blossoms are barely budding yet, lots of other flowering trees are blooming and the air is fragrant in the warming sunshine. The first of newly-mown lawns add their evocative scent. Bees are humming and I saw my first butterfly of the spring on Thursday. Of course, this also means that there’s a pollen alert every day, and this spring for the first time my allergies have escalated to the “burning eyes” level. But as long as I can breathe through my nose, even a little, I still want to stick my head out the car window like a dog and drink it all in.

Breathe in the springtime – it’ll do you good.

This is our daily Open Thread–what’s on your mind?

Sunday Roast: Vivaldi Spring

Well, it’s acting like Spring more and more around here — gorgeous sunny days, rain, hail, overcast, wind, flowering trees, sneezing, more sun, more sneezing, etc — so I thought I’d post the definitive music of Vivaldi’s Spring.

Feel free to post your own Spring-ish music or photos in the comments section.

This is our daily open thread — What are you doing today?

Sunday Roast: April 7, 2013 – Spring?

It feels at least like 84 years since I’ve last seen spring. We are still having patches of snow and there is more sleet in the forecast. For Heaven’s sake it is April. In former years my roses were already budding at this time. Small wonder everybody is tired and cranky all the time.

And now I read it is, again, man-made. The jet stream is too far south for a while now, so cold and wet weather prevails where I am. The effects of climate change.

This is an Open Thread. How are you today?

The Watering Hole: April 2 — Spring has sprung

Photo by Zooey

I kind of feel bad about being so relieved that it’s finally Spring, since we basically had a six month Fall in this area.  I think it’s the browns and grays that get to me after a while.

When I rented this apartment in February, I was SO excited to see daffodil shoots sticking out of the ground, in the planter boxes in front.  They’re blooming now, and just looking at them makes me smile.  🙂

I took this picture of one of the first buds on the tree across the driveway.  I think it might be an apple blossom, but I’m not sure.  I don’t want to ask the landlady, because I want it to be a surprise.

I know, I’m a friggin’ weirdo.  Tell me something I don’t already know!

I’ve been pretty much gone from TheZoo for a few months, but I’m working my way back.  Just finally starting to remember that I have something to say now and then, and there might be a few people out here that might like to hear it.

This is our daily open thread — Go for it, all y’all.

Camperdown elm in the Spring

Photo by Zach Meier

On January 1, I posted a snowy picture of a Camperdown Elm on the University of Idaho grounds.  Some of you expressed an interest in seeing these trees in the Spring.  Your wish is my command.  Enjoy.

In bloom: Canola

Photo by Zooey

 

So What Are You All Doing This Spring Sunday?

Did Someone Say Flowering Trees?

Okay, so a butterfly bush isn’t exactly a “flowering tree“, but they grow to about eight feet and, if you cut them down to a foot or two at the end of each season, they provide years of beauty. Not to mention that they attract butterflies and hummingbirds!

Apple Blossom Time

Here’s one of my favorite spring photos from a few years ago. Our office is set in a ‘retired’ part of a huge apple orchard, and a couple of the windows in my department look out past the rhododendrons to rows of old apple trees. I’m glad I took this shot, as the past couple of years have brought increasing windstorms which have brought down many of these beautiful old trees.

And How About Some Blues?

Morning glories are among my favorite flowers, with their glorious blues, pinks, and occasional purples.

And More Color…

We have masses of rhododendron bushes around our office building, making for great photo ops.

Who Doesn’t love Spring?

Spring brings us new life, such as flowers and kittens. Who can resist either?