Welcome to the first Friday in April where as always we join the LLB Gang for their weekly Nature Friday blog hop. Click on the link to see what scenes from nature others are sharing. Hard to believe we’ve officially entered the second quarter of 2025. Where has the time gone? Soon Passover and Easter will be front and center. The speed at which time flies by seems to speed up the older you get. Luckily there’s a certain ‘lad’ who’s happy to keep me on my toes (aka staying young by trying to keep up with him, despite the uncanny number of wrinkles staring back at me from my bathroom mirror). Well, let’s get started with today’s latest conversation.
Wilson: Hello, Mum…happy Friday. So what will we showcase this week?
The Mum: Well, young man, before we get started, how’s about we have a little ‘chat’ first before we share any photos from nature we encountered this week, shall we?
Wilson: Umm, this sounds ominous. Am I in trouble?
The Mum: Not in trouble per se but we do need to have a heart to heart about the maple flowers that are dropping on the sidewalk like flies.
Wilson: Ooooh, you mean those tasty morsels I find whenever I go outside? They are just so…
The Mum: {interrupting} STOP…you can’t eat those…
Wilson: But Mum…I can’t help but think of them as little truffles. I realize they may not be for everyone, but you do realize one of my greatest gifts to humankind is my uncanny ability to hoover up crumbs, wherever I find them. Just think of these things as crumbs that I’m cleaning up for you. I mean, you realize I’m doing you a solid by you not having to constantly have to sweep them up from the patio. When you think about it, I’m actually doing you a favor.
The Mum: Umm, well when you put it like that…wait, what am I saying? When you snarf those little flower clusters up, I have to mop up the slobbery drool marks! No, no, no…maple flowers must not to be eaten. While it should be noted that they aren’t poisonous, ingesting the flowers could cause stomach upset, including vomiting and diarrhea. You wouldn’t want to have to go to the vet now, would you?
Wilson: {gasp} Well, when you put it like that…definitely not. I’ll try not to eat them Mum, but we both know it won’t be easy. May I suggest you bring plenty of treats with you when taking me outside to deter me from eating until they’re gone?
The Mum: Boy, you’ll do just about anything for a treat, won’t you?
Wilson: I say, Mum, I’ve told you many times before, I’m no ordinary fool. You should know treats are a bravo-good way to deter unwanted behavior. All the training videos say so.
The Mum: You’ve been on Facebook again, haven’t you?
Wilson: {clearing his throat} Let’s just say I’m a quick study, Mum.
The Mum: I can see this conversation is going nowhere. Now that we’ve chewed on that topic, what slices of nature do you have to share this week?
Wilson: Well, the forsythias are blooming right now and boy are they cheerful and bright. I’ll bet they make lovely cuttings in any vase.
The Mum: They are definitely a sign that spring is here.
Wilson: And flowering shrubs are beginning to bloom around the neighborhood. One of the prettiest is Prunus Glandulosa, commonly known as flowering almond. This small shrub is fairly tolerant of urban conditions, and once well established, can be fairly drought-tolerant. All parts of the flowering almond shrub including the stems, leaves, and seeds, are toxic as are many plants in the Prunus family (i.e. plums, cherries, and peaches). It contains cyanogenic glycosides, that release cyanide when metabolized. Ingestion can lead to all sorts of health problems like gastrointestinal distress, difficulty in breathing, seizures, coma and death. Yikes-I’m rather glad we don’t have any in our garden.
Lovely as usual. Enjoy the spring glory!
Thanks. You’re kind. So grateful that spring returned this week. We’ll be in the mid 80’s by Saturday. {gulp}
Let’s all hope… the cold is done.
The cold isn’t nearly as bad as the grey skies. We’re hoping sunny skies return today 🤞🏼
Lulu: “Vomiting and diarrhea from maple flowers? No thank you! If I am going to throw up in the house, it’ll be because I ate a gopher!”
Way to be choosy, Lulu! Gopher probably tastes like chicken instead of vegetarian truffles.
The flowers are beautiful. You’re a bit ahead of us, but our forsythia are showing signs of life. I understand the challenge of a dog that hoovers up everything he finds (and the outcomes you mentioned). Much rather sweep up yard debris than the end results inside.
Thanks, Dan. Wilson is a lot like a toddler…everything seems to go in his mouth. And yes, I’d much rather sweep up leaves and plant material than clean up digestive distress any day of the week! Here’s hoping spring-like flowers appear soon on your end.
What beautiful flowers! We aren’t quite there yet, the daffodils are barely starting to pop. Another week!
After warm temps the past couple of weeks managed to coax a few sporadic blooms, winter said “not so fast.” It’s been cold, grey with snow flurries this week. Those upper 70’s sure were enjoyable, especially now that it’s currently below freezing. 😲
Such beauty all around your area! We only have daffs and the scylla everywhere…in some of the more sheltered areas there are wild violets popping upland even blooming. The grape hyacinths are all having lots of their leaves but still no flower stalks…My redbud trees, at least three of the four, newly planted last late summer are starting to show us where they will be blooming, as is our weeping cherry tree…but we have to be patient for the real blossoms! (not sure if the fourth tree will be viable, sadly.)
Thanks for a good sharing of the springtime prettiness, Wilson! And leave the maple ‘droppings’ alone, OK??!
Thanks, I swear grape hyacinths are on steroids here. They’re everywhere. But they are most welcome, especially on a cold wintery day like today. With flurries and cold, Wilson and I are cuddling together. I can’t wait for those maple droppings to be finished. Have a good weekend!
Beautiful blooms. You are way ahead of us. We have daffodils, but that is it.
Thanks, Ellen. Most of the spring bulbs are just beginning here too. We just found a few of the pretty ones. Have a good weekend.
What beautiful blooms you have making their way up to you guys!
Looks like Winter is heading back here too 🙁
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
It would appear false spring arrived and then winter said, “just kidding.” Luckily the spring bulbs say, “don’t care…we’re here!” Have a super weekend.
Those flowers are all very pretty and remember Wilson, ask for more treats when you are walking. That’s a fabulous idea!
Trust me, he needs no encouragement! Glad you liked the flowers. Have a good weekend.
Beautiful spring flowers! Things are starting to pop here, too, hurrah. We’ll try not to mind the minor setback this weekend!
Thanks Eliza. We’re just going to go with the flow this weekend. Hope yours is fab.
Wilson knows how to get his treats, that clever boy! I mean, it’s a win/win, so I can’t really blame him. As for the time, it is FLYING! How we got from January to the first week of April inside of what? Five minutes? Wow. But the colors prevail, even if the nights are still wintry (here too). We’re looking at rain most of the weekend.
Here’s to spring, wherever it is.
Have a great weekend on the ranch.
Rain mixed with flurries here. Guess it’s true, misery loves company. Hopefully it’s a good weekend to R&R. That dog is shameless about any kind of snack. He and I will be having more words about it no doubt. Now that he’s a singleton, he still acts like a maniac devouring food in record-breaking time. Crumbs are the bonuses all athletes dream about. Here’s to a cozy weekend enjoying comfort food and good TV.
Ugh. I don’t mind running in the rain, just as long as its not cold rain.
Sounds like the perfect weekend for just that.
He is cheeky and he’s handsome and he knows it.
That’s like my cat Jack. Anything and everything. The girl is dainty but not the boy.
Here’s to it!
Boys!! 😆Here’s to a rain free run.
Hahaha! We’re gonna be boys!
Thank you mama
Wow on the freezing weather! We’re in the 80’s this week, partly cloudy. But it’s really windy! Wilson, if you think about it you’ll realize why at least parts of these plants are poisonous. It’s to kill off their predators. Make sense, sweet boy?
Right now it’s currently 37ºF with intermittent flurries. Our morning walk was quite chilly. Good thing I hadn’t stored the gloves and winter coat just yet. 😉 P.S. Wilson says he’s a love, not a predator. We seem to be having a difference of opinion on why it’s important to not eat things on the sidewalk. Here’s hoping you all have a good weekend and no one blows away.
Great pics, such intense hyacinth colors–wow!
Thanks, Lisa. I love find the unexpected colors just to keep things interesting. Have a great weekend.
Such lovely photos of lovely flowers. Tempeste is a “whatever falls into the yard” eater. We put up a tent so that the stuff coming off trees hits the tent and then rolls out of her touch. This includes the leavers as well as spring buds. I hope you have a great weekend, Monika and Wilson.
Thanks John. I swear I think that dog could find a microscopic crumb-I have to watch him like a hawk whenever we walk through the hospital lunchroom. He’s got eagle eyes for the slightest cookie crumb. 🤦🏼♀️ Here’s hoping you have a great weekend-it started snowing a bit ago and it’s chilly out there so it looks like we’re going to chill ourselves!
wilson we love flower power at a festival but not inside of us… please eat greenies they are full of power too ;o)
I keep trying to convince him that he should avoid plants. We seem to have a bit of a communication breakdown, apparently. Have a good weekend.
Mom says when she was a kid time was so slow and adults always said it gets faster as you age. Now she says it goes by way too fast. Weird! No flowers here. Snow from the last storm just finished melting and it is below freezing in the mornings. We are happy as then we can be in the yard, otherwise it is too much mud. Flowers will start popping up in the coming weeks here. Have a Grand weekend and enjoy the pretty blumes with your eyes, not taste buds!
Kids have a totally unique perspective regarding time. Sometimes I envy them. I be sure to tell Wilson to enjoy with his eyes, not his taste buds. LOL Have a good weekend.
What a wonderful post!
I don’t remember ever seeing maple flowers like that!
I went for an after-work walk as it was the warmest we will see for a good bit (sigh) and I was beside myself because I saw my first crocus! We are soooo far behind 🙂
That is a most interesting wine colour for the hyacinth. So, it does not smell like the purple ones?
Have a fantabulous and relaxing weekend. We are going to have rain, rain, rain so I guess I shall just have to relax! 😉
Thank you. They’re fairly small (the pic is a real close up) and aren’t very distinctive. I think Wilson thinks they’re crumbs and he’s not one to let a crumb pass. I loved the wine colored hyacinth. It had fragrance but I still think the purple ones are the most fragrant. I have a whole slew of creamy yellow ones and their fragrance is practically miniscule. I totally love crocuses…they are the harbinger of all the pretty about to come. Hope the weekend isn’t too soggy and it’s still a great one.
I know! Wonderful shots, my friend. Hahaha! We’ll call him Hoover! Yes! I was SO excited to see my first ones. I think I should plant some…
It will be wonderful. I have to maybe go shopping for some clothes as I am going on a business trip to Toronto from April 8-13 – I’m stupid excited as I never get to go anywhere!
You’re too kind-thank you. The nice thing about crocuses is they’re no-fuss, no-muss and they naturalize nicely. I especially love the purple stripey ones. And they provide fairly long-lasting blooms when you need it the most.
How exciting to be able to go on a trip to Toronto. I LOVE that cosmopolitan city! Have a blast…both shopping and traveling.
Never! I just took pictures on my way to my car from work. I’m going to share them.
Yes! I am embarrassed to say I don’t know Toronto. Been a Montrealer forever and so it’s my duty to hate it just for existing. I do love that I will be able to visit. (Last time was in 2000!)
I was only there once and fairly briefly, but what I saw was amazing. I’m quite jealous. I know you’ll take loads of fabulous pics that’ll make me want to go again.
You know I will!!
Gracie loves to hoover up crumbs too, and she is so low to the ground that her nose is right on top of crumbs all the time. I have yet to decide if she likes the airport therapy visits for the people or all the crumbs (a buffet of crumbs) and I best I think it is 50/50.
Hahaha…Wilson and her have a lot in common. Nothing like loads of attention with a few crumbs as a bonus, eh?
Absolutely. All those crumbs and attention, plus a free pupcup from Starbucks. Is it any wonder Gracie loves going to the airport??
Those flowers are gorgeous. Love the hyacinth.
Thank you. I just love them and always wonder, should I cut and bring inside to enjoy or watch them in the garden. They are definitely a favorite spring bulb.
Wilson is a quick study…..once he is told something, he knows it. Lovely spring flowers, so hoping a cold spell does not harm them.
He may know it, but he’s a sheepdog which means he may or may not obey. Sweet but very stubborn on some things. I like to think of him as a ‘work in progress.’ Bulbs do well in cold weather, even if they get dumped on with snow. Hope all is going well on your trip. Have a good weekend.