Welcome to April’s first edition of Nature Friday. Today also happens to be Good Friday and Passover began a couple of days ago, so first off, we first want to wish everyone a Happy Easter and send our best Passover greetings to our Jewish friends.
As we typically do for these Nature Friday’s, we’re joining Rosy and Sunny from the Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on their link to see what others have shared for their Nature Friday blog hop.
Greetings, mates. Tis I, the House Pony ridiculously gussied up as the Easter Bunny. The things I do for my Mum. This week we’re going to look at Nature from nearby Boulder since we enjoyed a family get-together with Mum’s son, his partner and the grandbaby last weekend. Spring has begun unfurling itself in earnest all along the Front Range but seeing springtime in Boulder caught Mum by surprise.
The Mum: You bet your sweet bippy, House Pony. I don’t think I’ve ever seen lilac bushes in full bloom in March. Talk about being gobsmacked. Early and ever so fragrant, that delicious sweet fragrance really caught me off guard.
Wilson: That is pretty crazy, Mum. But no crazier than the pear tree that was in full bloom.
The Mum: As I walked their backyard garden I was amazed at the various fruit trees in bloom along with returning vegetables (the artichoke was only a few inches tall so I didn’t take a photo of it), along with other perennials like Columbines. The bearded irises I gave my son early last autumn are doing well in their new home and I may end up getting a few back since the movers neglected to bring the bucket of corms with specimens of the black and soft blue bearded irises I had hoped would accompany me to the new garden.
Wilson: I noticed the Hostas were going gangbusters, too. Those variegated leaves make them distinctive in any garden landscape.
The Mum: I was pleased to see Forget-Me-Nots throughout their garden. Such pretty little blue flowers adding lovely pops of color in the spring garden. I’m a sucker for blue flowers. Kevin said they are going as crazy naturalizing as my lupines did in the old garden.
Wilson: Did you know the Forget-Me-Not is Alaska’s state flower, Mum? Though generally classified as short-lived perennials or biennials, they often act like perennials since they spread vigorously by self-sowing. They tend to bloom from spring to early summer in USDA Zones 3–8, and prefer partial shade and moist soil. With the ongoing drought here, it’s not likely we’ll be adding any of them to our garden any time soon. I know how you are about water guzzlers.
The Mum: You’re right, especially this year where mandatory water restrictions are in place. I’m still mulling over what plants I’ll add and where to put them but did buy a nice deep purple hyacinth and a small peony bush that I hope to plant soon. I’m sure by autumn when spring bulbs will be planted, I’ll have a good idea of where things might go. Working on the overall plan may take some time so I’m not in a super hurry and am excited about various possibilities long term.
Wilson: There were even some lovely tulips in bloom. I know you didn’t photograph the black ones that were just beginning to start forming buds but you fell in love with this pink one.
The Mum: Yeah, I absolutely love pink tulips and would have photographed the black ones if they weren’t still fairly tight in bud. I always enjoy an unusual colors in the garden.
Wilson: You do tend to favor pink in the garden. I mean just look at this beautiful pink apple blossom that really is highlighted against the blue sky.
The Mum: It was nice being in Boulder for the day especially since I’ve been driving back and forth to Pueblo working on the house every other day. I think we’re basically ready for the house to be listed next week.
Wilson: Grandpa was sure delighted with the way it turned out. The new flooring sure turned out beautifully and I know you and all the siblings are hoping a new family will buy it and continue the happy times in that lovely home now that it’s been updated and spiffed up.
The Mum: Yes, the house needs to have a family that will continue the awesome history initially started by our family. We shared so many great meals, spirited conversations and celebrations with wonderful get-togethers welcoming new family members over the years. There is such a positive energy to the home and I wish whomever moves in loads of ongoing love, laughter and happiness.
Wilson: I’m sure someone will be very happy there. And closer to home along the Ralston Creek Trail we saw the creek fill up from the canal you featured last week. Not sure where that water came from but hearing it moving downstream warmed our hearts. It’s been barely trickling for the past several weeks and while we received a tiny amount of rain on Wednesday, it certainly wasn’t due to that. It sure brought folks out to check it out, probably because it’s been so long since it was running. With mild temperatures this week, this is the kind of spring we can get on board with.
The Mum: Well that’s it from us. Do you have special plans for Easter or Passover? However you celebrate this time of year, we hope everyone has a safe and joyous holiday.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
It is crazy how early things are blooming/have bloomed this Spring!
It’s always amazing how you know the names of all these flowers! The only thing we still have are our hostas. And they’ve started popping up out of the dirt. Our Easter started very rainy, but early afternoon we’ve got sunshine and moderate temps (me and the dogs are all out on the screened porch.) Have a great day with your family!
I always enjoy your nature photos and hope you have a blessed and beautiful Happy Easter.
Thank you so much. You’re too kind. We hope you have a beautiful Easter!
What a BEAUTIFUL display of gorgeous Spring flowers – very “Easterish” and we could almost (almost) smell the delicious perfume from them. Glad the house is ready to put on the market – we think it will sell QUICKLY because you’ve worked so hard to get it in shape for the next family to love it like you did. Happy “Easter-Eve” – we hope the Bunny finds you in your new home – I think he’s pretty good at finding his favorite families though no matter WHERE they are!!!!
Love, Pam and Teddy too
Thank you! The blooms sure made us smile. And we hope the house sells quickly although as I understand it, the sales market is tough down there. Happy Easter to you all.
What an interesting-looking Easter Bunny, so dog-like with four ears. 😆
Your flower pictures are beautiful! Have a Happy Easter.
Hahaha! Wilson is a very good boy when it comes to indulging my silly photo shoots. Glad you enjoyed the flowers. Wishing you and Bruce a very lovely Easter weekend.
Thank you!
Wow! They sure are ahead of us with blooming stuff! Beautiful! We have forsythia and daffs here!
Boulder seemed ahead of us by a bit too but it was great seeing all the pretty blossoms. We hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Beautiful blooms. I love the rabbit ears. XO
Thank you, Ellen. Wilson is a good egg when it comes to wearing head ware. 😉 Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday weekend.
Thanks! He’s a good sport when it comes to head ware. Glad you enjoyed the blooms. It’s nice to see spots of color amidst of the drab winter landscape. Have a wonderful holiday weekend.
Such lovely flowers! Perfect for Easter weekend ! Yay, for the tulips 🌷
Aww about the house. I wish the family that buys it the same thing. Filling it with love and laughter. So many memories in a house. Warm (((hugs))) 🩷
Happy Easter to you!
Oh yes, there are so many happy memories in that home. Glad you liked the flowers. I was surprised they were so early but guess that should be expected with the warm temps of late (though today is not one of those days!). When your elevation is above a mile high, the sun manages to take advantage of it. Now if only the red flag wind warnings would take a hike. Wishing you, Brad, the kids and your adorable pupster have a wonderful Easter holiday weekend.
Thanks, Carolyn. Kevin’s garden is going to be full of color and fruit this season! Those tulips were so pretty. I love pink tulips! Have a lovely Easter weekend.
💕🙂
Hey Wilson, Spring is sure looking good in your neck of the woods and you make an adorable Easter Bunny pal!
Thank you, Terry. Wilson is such a good boy when it comes to photo sessions. We hope you and the kitties have an ‘egg-ceptional’ Easter!
The blooms are blooming, the house will be giving great vibes going forward, the precip is still just sipping (but hope is strong that there will be more soon) and Wilson IS all gussied up! He does Easter so well! Not that I’m surprised in the least.
Here’s hoping y’all have a beautiful holiday weekend mama
Thanks Marc-appreciate your kind comment. It should be a fun Easter with the great grand. She’s getting into the idea of hiding eggs so I’m sure there’ll be lots of laughs. Wishing you an ‘egg-ceptional’ Easter!
Have a hopping good time!
You too! 🐰
I love the Forget-me-nots. The blue is beautiful. All the blooms looked very nice. Wishing you and Wilson a very peaceful Easter.
Many thanks, John. I’m very partial to blue flowers and Forget-me-nots are just too cute. Glad you enjoyed this week’s nature postcard. Wishing you, the Producer and the pups a joyous Easter.
Have a great Easter break 😀
Thanks. You too!
Glad your project is nearly completed and hope you find a buyer quickly. Spring is a good time for new beginnings. Hope your Easter is lovely. 🕊️
Thanks, Eliza. We hopeful but it’s economically tough in that area so we’ll see how it goes. Best wishes for a happy Easter weekend.
I always say mid spring, (which it isn’t quite yet), is my favorite season.
Your blooms are so cheerful, and pretty! Things are starting here, but it isn’t nearly at the stage like your pictures.
Nice to have a good day with family, and I hope the house you loved so much sells quickly and will be equally loved.
Have a wonderful Easter!
Thanks for the kind comment about the house. I sure hope it sells quickly. I know Dad is a bit anxious about it sitting on the market for too long.
When you live at higher elevations, things tend to emerge from their winter snooze. Not that we had any winter mind you but being closer to the sun does help. It was a bit shocking to see so much out already up in Boulder. We hope you all have a terrific Easte. celebration
Mighty purty flowers. Great shot of Wilson although I have to say the out take photo of him laughing (I think) that you posted on Insta was hilarious!
Thanks, Tom. Yeah, that outtake was rich. He rarely does anything like that so it was especially funny.
It’s nice to see some color finally after a dul and boring winter, such as it was. I’d have preferred more white but apparently Mother Nature didn’t take a poll. Here’s hoping you and Reiko have a lovely holiday weekend.
The flowers and flowering bushes/trees are amazing. We would not expect to see that either right now in CO. Thanks for the cheery photos!
It’s interesting because a photographic memory popped up this morning and it was a snowy scene on some Easter eggs hanging from a tree. My how times have changed in the past decade. Glad you enjoyed the photos of flowers. We wish you a very Happy Easter weekend.
Lovely to see colors again, rather than just grey and brown for so long. I know those are colors too, but give me some bright and cheery ones please! Happy Easter.
Yes, it was a long and very boring winter. Nice to see some color again. Here’s wishing you a fabulous holiday weekend.
Wilson is adorable as the Easter Bunny. I hope he got a few nice treats for being patient enough for you to snap that picture.
The flowers are all beautiful. It’s wonderful to see the lilacs, but it does seem early. Our forsythia is just starting to poke out and what bulbs were dug up and eaten during the winter are pushing up through the ground but nowhere near blooming.
Thanks for sharing your colors with us. I hope you have a great weekend.
Thanks, Dan. He’s a good sport about those photo sessions and yes, the treats flow freely. Wishing you and yours a very happy Easter weekend. Hopefully spring will ramp up in your area soon.
Thanks. It looks like we have some warmer weather coming, but still a few below freezing nights.
April is the pretty spring month but it can show a severe side at times. Here’s hoping it’s all lovely for you and yours.
OOOHHH Winston you are so darn cute with the bunny ears!!! Our hostas and tulips have not really started yet; being by the lake we get everything later than inland. Have a wonderful weekend; Chester the dirty dog is getting a bath weather permitting!
Thanks. He’s such a good sport about posing with the ears (or hats). I think the treats help. 😉 Wilson sends his sympathies on the water torture treatment. Have a lovely holiday weekend.
Wow, spring has really sprung in Colorado! The big garden news here in SD is finding teeny tiny praying mantis babies on my lantana and heliotrope plants, meep!
Oooh, how cool is that? I love finding garden helpers like that.
Yes, spring is totally on the fast track which will likely make the parched season that much longer. Sigh. Have a terrific holiday weekend.
Lovely spring flowers!
Many thanks, Helen. It’s been so busy driving back and forth that it was a nice afternoon spent with family and walking about among the signs of spring. But gosh, it is sooo early from past years. Wishing you a happy holiday weekend.
Happy Easter to everyone! Just don’t chase the Easter bunny.
Thanks, right back atcha! Hope you enjoy a very Happy Easter weekend.