Nature Friday ~ April 2, 2021

My goodness, here it is April already. Where did the first quarter of 2021 go?! As we typically do on Friday’s, we’re joining our adorable weekly hosts, Rosy, Sunny, Arty and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard to see what’s going on with Mother Nature. Don’t forget to click on the link to check out the blog hop and see what else others in Blogville have shared.

Spring has been working overtime trying to catch up after recent visits from Ole Man Winter. There’s still some white stuff remaining on northern exposures but all and all, the week has been all about spring with clear bluebird skies, warm temperatures with perennials, shrubs and trees that are beginning to bud.

A Pasque flower I walk past daily has just recently begun to open and its arrival is always reason to smile with hope that spring is here. Pasque flowers (known as Pulsatilla hirsutissima, Pulsatilla ludoviciana, Pulsatilla patens, Anemone patens, etc.) have an undisputed appearance but a somewhat disputed name. It has been known as Pulsatilla hirsutissima, Pulsatilla ludoviciana, Pulsatilla patens, Anemone patens, etc.  “Pulsatilla” from the Latin for “pulsing”, “moving about”, plus the diminutive, “illa”: thus “a bit of quivering” (from the wind). Pasque Flower or Easter Flower is from the Hebrew “Pasach” i.e. “Passover” [the last supper was the celebration of Pasach] and thus this plant has became associated with Easter since they generally flower around the Easter/Passover season when winter snows begin to melt. The name most likely arrived through variations of French, “passefleur” and “passflower” both similar to the French word for Easter, “Pasques” which has its roots in the Hebrew word “Pasach” so it’s somewhat easy to see how the common name has morphed into “Pasque Flower.”

Flowers

A walk about through my garden yesterday when temps were in the mid-70’s showed the blueish grape hyacinths fully in bloom. I was shocked to find a lone outlier white one in the middle of the blues and hope nature has some sort of grand plan. The bee didn’t seem to mind that lone white one either as it kept going back and forth to it, probably reacting much like us humans do with ice cream…”chocolate or vanilla? Oh what the heck, I like them both.”

Flowers

Over the next several days temps are expected to be in the upper 70’s to low 80’s so being outdoors to enjoy this glorious time will be the MO of the residents around the Mile High.

We wish everyone a blessed Easter weekend and hope whatever your religious persuasion that you find some time to get outside and sing the glory of nature’s beautiful work.

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

52 thoughts on “Nature Friday ~ April 2, 2021

  1. A happy belated Easter! Your flowers look lovely! It has been on the cooler side here, but that has also extended the daffodil season and kept fruit trees from blooming too early.

    1. Cooler is not bad, especially when I know there’ll no doubt be triple digits soon enough. Enjoy a lovely daffodil season!

  2. That’s some nice weather! We were back to winter for a few days, but I think spring is finally reappearing. The daffodils are budding so we may get some color one of these days! 🙂

    1. Isn’t is just a joy to see things start their annual show? I even saw some tulips blooming for the first time this weekend. Yay 🌷

    1. ‘Hoppy’ Easter 🐰🐣🐇 Saw the first tulip today-yay. I think spring might actually have sprung here after our monster blizzard a couple of weeks ago.

    1. Vanilla is much better for pups for sure. But chocolate is good for the two-legged.

    1. Thanks. Pasque flowers are real showstoppers. Have a great Easter and give Milo a nice ear rubs from me.

  3. OMD, how beautifuls!!! The weather has been too hot here, butts it’s gonna be GORGEOUS next week, so that is something FABulous to look forwards too! BOL!
    I can almost smell those hyacinths ~ they are one of Ma’s favs.
    You gives Norman a kiss and a squeeze from Ma, and gives Elsa a high paw from me
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

    1. We went from winter (remember our 24” blizzard 3 weeks ago?) to summer. Bam! Just like that. What’s up with the weather? We hope you have a furbulous weekend!

  4. I love the flower photo and the name explanation too. Very interesting. Enjoy your warm temps!

  5. Love that picture of the Pasque Flower. I’ve never seen those before. Also, that’s my first white grape hyacinth. Glad you are having some great weather, finally. It was beautiful here, but cold and windy, so I stayed inside most of the day and enjoyed it through the window. It is supposed warm up some this weekend. Enjoy your days outside and Happy Easter to you and yours.

    1. Thanks, they’re one of the earliest wild flowers and a favorite of mine. We’ve had quite the temperature swing. I think I may have whiplash from it! LOL 😂 Happy Easter 🐰🐣🐇

    1. Thanks, John. Finally we’re moving toward wild flower season…a favorite time of year. Have a great weekend!

    1. The 80’s have definitely surprised me. Wasn’t prepared to go from winter to summer that quickly.

  6. It’s super duper cold and windy here today but we are promised an Easter Sunday in the 60s. I’ll believe it when I FEEL it! Beautiful signs of Spring there – – hope you enjoy the outdoors and have a wonderful Easter.

    Hugs, Pam and Teddy too

  7. Very interesting about that flower..never heard of it (not surprising…it’s not a dog breed). Can’t believe your weather is hotter than here. We’ve had two nights of hard freeze with 50’s as the highs. We’re staying home for Easter with only my live-in son joining us (maybe, one never knows with him).
    Happy Easter to you too, Monika.

    1. It’s one of my favorite wild flowers but not well known. I enjoyed the whole name thing and wanted to share it with everyone else. Here’s hoping you have a truly lovely weekend (and hopefully with your son).

  8. Honestly. Your weather is ridiculous. All I can say.
    Love that Easter Flower… Pâques is going to be quiet again this year… sigh.
    I’ve get to see a crocus or a hyacinth BUT I do see some plants sprouting in my front yard. Tulips and daffs. I did post them before Instagram decided I was no longer worthy…

    Happy Easter my friend!

    1. It’s so bizarrely crazy. I mean talk about whiplash! Have a terrific weekend.

    1. Definitely ready for nicer weather. Have spent a couple of days out digging in the garden and it felt great. Happy Easter to you, Leo and my favorite thugs.

  9. Many thanx fore mentionin Pesach Flower Miss Monika…they are so purrty!! An so are THE Grape Hyacinthss too!
    Iss sunny butt freezin cold here with a skiff of snow on ground.
    Can you beeleeve it iss APRIL?? Time iss flyin….too fast!
    Happy SPRING an Ester Miss Monika an sweet Norman an Elsa <3 <3 <3
    **purrss** an **paw kissess** BellaDharma an {{{huggiess}}} LadyMew

    1. It’s been such lovely weather this week. I still can’t believe it! Hope you have a pawsome weekend.

    1. I rarely have seen any of the white ones so it was a nice surprise. More than ready for spring!

    1. They’re one of my favorite wildflowers. So interesting and you just want to touch them. Happy Easter!

  10. Spring is magical and when it warms up it’s even better. Enjoy your weekend outdoors.

    Scritches to Elsa and a big smooch to Norman. ♥

    1. So looking forward to a nice weekend for a change. Hope yours is every bit as lovely.

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