Spring Flowers

Time to bid farewell to May.

May has brought hot weather to my part of the country.The warmth is great, now some areas are just needing a little more rain, but that too, will come when God sees fit to send it.

Today,I start out with a couple of pictures taken earlier in spring. The male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a beautiful bird and one I look forward to enjoying for a short time in spring.They seem to pass through, so I usually only see them for a few days.

Isn't he handsome?

The rest of this post is all about flowers.I love flowers and am always looking for new photos of them. I found these at a place I least expected to see anything.Just driving along a country road,I spotted this apple tree in the ditch and it was covered with blooms.Of course that meant I had to stop and get some pictures.

I wandered down the back lane to my neighbours yard and one day was thrilled to see the hedge of Lilacs was covered in these luscious blooms.

Look what I found right behind my house! There is one small cherry tree, possibly a wild cherry of sorts, but the blossoms are so pretty.If I watch carefully,I may be able to catch the birds feeding on these cherries in fall.

The Mountain Ash on my yard is not looking all that good, but it still manages to produce some flowers.This bee seemed to enjoy the sweet treat.

I bought a potted Sunflower earlier in spring.I like the bright and cheery blooms.While I was watering the plants,I noticed this and knew that I had better hurry to get the camera, before those droplets had evaporated.

For those who follow me on Facebook,you already know my love for the Fern Leaf Peony.I've wanted one for years, but they seemed too costly.Well,when some friends moved into a different house,I noticed this Peony growing in one of the flower beds.I just commented on how lucky she was to have this and how I have always wanted one but had never bought myself one.A few days later she is on my yard with a black garbage bag and this plant inside.In her words,'she wanted to bless me with this plant'. She certainly did that.It has been a gift that keeps on giving.

Something To Think About:

Your mind is a garden.

Your thoughts are the seeds.

You can grow flowers,

Or you can grow weeds.

Birds On My Yard and More

It seems I can never catch up with pictures, but even though these are not from a day or so ago, the subjects remain interesting and, in my eyes, beautiful.

The male Purple Finch is a handsome fella and has a most beautiful voice as well.

Dark-eyed Juncos come through this area in early spring and late fall.I look forward to their cheerful twitter as they arrive in spring.

Common Redpoll is a bird I don't see every year.Usually they are in my area in winter, but this year a few showed up very early in spring or some might call it late winter.

The well known American Robin is a common bird and yet so very welcome each spring. Notice that this one has some unusual white spots on him.He is healthy and has been hanging around and feeding.

The Swans are beautiful and elegant.Unfortunately,I usually see them at too great a distance to get really good pictures.

Spring brings the various sparrows as well. The White-throated Sparrow is a cute bird.They also have a cheery song which brightens the yard each spring.

Love them or hate them, the Common Grackle is a beautiful bird.I can't say that I love their habits, such as being very messy eaters and also raiding other birds nests, but I still can appreciate their looks.

As the sun sets in the west, it paints a path of gold over the water.

Meanwhile in another part of the sky, the moon rises and sheds it's light on the now darkened world.

 Something to Think About:

Your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn.

The Manitoba Crocus

The Prairie or Manitoba Crocus is one that most Manitobans know well. I can recall as a child that we had meadows filled with them.

I have always loved this diminutive flower.It grows low to the ground and blooms before most of the grasses even start to grow.

Nowadays it can be a challenge to find these flowers growing in the wild.I should mention, that these flowers do not grow well when dug up and planted in a garden.It is best to leave them where they are and enjoy them so future generations can also enjoy them. 

I did find out about a small patch in rural Manitoba that had Crocuses like I remember from my childhood. These locations are not given out too readily, for fear that the flowers may be picked or dug up.

The color of these early spring flowers is so soft and gentle.

I did find out while my reading about these flowers, that they are actually poisonous to people, but only if ingested.

Isn't that just the most pretty sight? To walk in a meadow like this one has to be so careful not to step on any plants.

Those short stems are covered in soft hairs, almost like a soft blanket to keep them warm.By now these flowers are only a memory, till spring rolls around again next year.

Something To Think About:

Matthew 6:28-30 NIV
[28]“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. [29] Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. [30] If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

Look To The Sky

Let's turn our eyes toward the sky.

I find in the sky an endless and ever changing beauty.I would encourage you to watch the sky and see if you will not, also find beauty that is amazing.

No two sunsets are the same, but oh the beauty they give us.

Zooming in a little closer, the look changes, but the gorgeous color remains.

Ok,so not everything we see in the sky has been created by God.Some of it is manmade,but can also look good. I liked the light of the setting sun on these con trails and aircraft.

One evening the sunset produces the most brilliant oranges and on another evening the sky is glowing with rich pinks and lavenders,and deep blues.

The colors of the sky can also be reflected in any standing water.This was taken before the lake had completely thawed. Small areas of open water reflected the beauty of the sky.

Even as I write this,I am reminded that I need to reflect the love of Jesus to those around me.

To Think About:

When life is getting you down,and you can’t see a way through.

Remember behind the darkest clouds there awaits a sky so blue.

The Return of the Birds

It is that time of year when my eyes are often towards the sky.Birds are returning to this area and one just never knows what might appear in the sky.

I apologize that someone the birds are farther away than I would like them to be, but I just have no control over that.

 The Northern Pintail Duck is a sleek and distinguished bird. Thus far they have not given me great opportunities for pictures, so I must take what I get. This pair in flight is quite lovely, in my opinion.

When I heard that there were several White-faced Ibis at one of the Kaleida Marshes,I had to go and find them.Again they were too far away, but the larger bird is the Ibis.I will not attempt to identify the other two waders.

A very common bird in these parts, in summer is the Ring-billed Gull.Since there are so many, they are relatively easy photo subjects.

I caught this one just as he was getting a snack of some sort.

Last but not least is the Turkey Vulture.What they lack for in beauty on their faces, they make up in those beautiful wings, as they soar through the sky.

To Think About:

Plunge into the blessings of spring…

the sprouting of trees and grass,

the sound of birds returning from their winter furlough,

the daffodils and tulips.

Free To Fly

As another month is over and a new one upon us, my mind is on flying. Time flies, we hear that often, days and moments fly by so quickly we barely have time to do the things we want to.

 Clouds don't usually fly through the sky, but rather lazily drift along. Come to think of it, those days when we can drift along are so relaxing and refreshing. Take some time to watch the clouds drift along and allow your body and soul to be refreshed.

This,on the other hand is a fast way of getting from one place to another.Aircraft are designed to speed through the air and get the traveller to their destination quickly.

The seeds from this Milkweed have left the pod several months ago.Were they in a hurry to leave or did they take their time.I wasn't there to see it, but I'm guessing that they hung onto the pod as long as possible and finally,at just the right moment sailed through the air, carried by the wind to a new place, where hopefully there was soil for them to start a new life.

Bald Eagles are most graceful,soaring through the sky on those huge wings. Sometimes things happen and for a time they need to be grounded and nursed back to health. That is where this Eagle had been, but now it was once again ready to soar as it was meant to do.

He quickly discovered that those wings still worked quite well and off he went. This release happened at a Raptor Festival not too far from where I live.What a thrill to see this bird take flight once again.

To Think About:

When God pushes you to the edge of difficulty,trust Him fully,because two things can happen,either He’ll catch you when you fall,or He will teach you to fly.

A Look Back Though The Old Album

This post has some old, scanned photos, some newer ones and it takes us to various locations and seasons.I would love for you to join me as we travel around to see check out the scenes, both near and far.

This first fall scene is at a small nature preserve near where I live, called Binney Corner.

I am fairly certain that I took this shot.

Another photo from the same general location and the same photographer.

Also one I captured at Binny Corner.

I have Amur Maples on my yard and they have some of the  most gorgeous fall colors. Whether the leaves are on the trees or on the lawn, they paint a lovely scene.

Now for some photos I did not take and am not sure where they  were taken.I encourage you to just enjoy the beauty.

I seem to remember that Jake has told me this is somewhere in British Columbia. It really doesn't matter, because I have no plans of ever crossing a bridge like that.

I cannot say where this is, but it does look spectacular.

This is the Devil's Tower in Wyoming.I was there but at that time did not have a camera.This was taken by Jake.

This little island is called Spirit Island and is on Moraine Lake near Banff,Alberta.To see this you take a boat ride way to the back of the lake.It is quite amazing to see this. I am thinking this picture was taken on our honeymoon,many years ago.

Closing Thought:

Photography is not about cameras, gadgets and gismos. 

Photography is about photographers. 

A camera didn’t make a great picture any more 

than a typewrite wrote a great novel. 

Peter Adams 

Timeless Beauty In Nature

Nature photos just never get old, at least in my opinion.These are all old photos that were taken before the digital era and scanned to the computer. I cannot take credit for any of these shots, but I know that man who took them, and I still am proud of the work he did.

Most of these scenes I do not know the location, but that does not diminish the beauty.

Mist over the water.

Look at those vibrant greens.

Fall in Manitoba.

This looks like it must be part of the Pembina Valley.

Overlooking our local golf course, advertised as one of the more scenic courses around.

This may well be the Pembina River.

Travelling through the Rocky Mountains.Note the snow beside the road.

I am guessing this is in Whiteshell Provincial Park,located about 2-3 hours east of where I live.

 This looks like a calendar scene to me.

Closing Thought:

Beautiful things happen in your life when you distance yourself from all the negative things.