Spring Comes to Michigan!

Today we took a wild flower nature walk in Royal Oak, MI a few blocks away from where I attended high school. Bloodroot was in full flower throughout the woods.

The Royal Oak Nature Society has made Tenhave Woods a protected natural area. It was originally a wood lot owned by early settler. High fences (try) to keep out the deer that love the wildflowers, too.

 A vernal pond has turtles and lots of liverwort and duckweed.

 Our naturalist guide explained that Liverwort is spore bearing, not seed creating like Duckweed.

High winds have knocked down trees, opening the canopy and leaving the woods with less protection. So more trees are toppling. The guide has known some of these tress for fifty years. He pointed out American Elm, Butternut, and Tulip trees. He remembers when Chestnut still grew in these woods.

Our guide found this patch of Dutchman's Breeches years ago and altered the path to allow it to flourish.

The woods has two kinds of Trout Lily: one has a red repel and the other yellow.

The May Apple will flower in another week.

The Trillium, both red and white, are not yet in flower either.

Flower nestled in the roots of trees.

We went from ice and snow to 70 degrees in a few weeks. This is Michigan.

Michigan 101: Spring Flora and Fauna

I wanted to share some lovely photos taken by my brother Tom and my friend Jan. First up are photos Tom took this past week on his walks around Michigan.

A few weeks ago we had a mackerel sky.

Jan Major is a friend from many years--and moves--ago. She took these great photos at rearing ponds where my family used to go walking. Just beautiful!

For past posts with Michigan nature photos see:
Michigan Lakes and Rivers here
Michigan Spring flowers here
Michigan Winter Wonderland here
Michigan Old Barns and Autumn here
Michigan Water Wonderland here
Michigan Critters here

May Brings Smiles and Sunshine

May has me smiling. The snow is over. Sunshine has returned.

Last Saturday I took an all day painting class. Everyone in the class was far more advanced and were quite adept. Teacher had to finally give me a little one-on-one to catch up.

 I received my first real--not ebook--for review! Thanks Schiffer!

Our apple trees have loads of buds after a good pruning.

We will be signing the contract for the kitchen remodel soon. We are going with the natural cherry cabinets, the Betty laminate from Wilson Art, and a lighter cork floor.

Our new tree is blooming. (We planted it in September:

 http://theliteratequilter.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-new-tree-comes-to-yard.html)

 And we have had daffodils and now tulips in bloom.

Our doggies have had needed dental care and teeth removed and they are eating with relish again.

Suki

Kamikaze

I also started writing again...something creative and not related to quilts or books I have read. We were at the Detroit Symphony concert last Thursday and during Schumann's Spring Symphony I was given an opening line and a character. I hope this time I finish what I have started!

Life is good!

Michigan 101: Springtime in Michigan

After a long, hard Michigan winter we look forward to the beauty of spring flowers. Last week Holland, Michigan held its annual Tulip Festival. But in yards everywhere the tulips and daffodils are blooming. Yesterday we were taken on a little auto tour of local gardens full of daffodils and tulips. Here are some photos from gardens past.

Fawn follow their mothers to the edge of the woods. Sometimes the doe and fawn go running right through the village here.

Here in Oceana County on our tour yesterday we saw the asparagus growing up from the bare ground of the fields. They say the late winter will delay the crop but not harm it. This is important as the county is the largest producer of asparagus in the country, and is home to the National Asparagus Festival. 

Soon the tress will be in flower, like the crabapple. Forsythia are in bloom now.

 I love when the lilacs bloom. I grew up in a house with thirty year old lilacs bushes. Their fragrance fills me with joyous nostalgia.

Winter is over.