Wednesday, April 18, 2012

April is Green!

For someone who continues to maintain they don't have many WIPs, I certainly have shown off a number of them recently.

Here's my oldest one - from a 1992 magazine.
A Noah's Ark feather tree.  It looks like I'm about 1/2 done.  I originally stopped because I lost the magazine with the pattern.  Through an early cross stitch message board, someone kindly sent me a copy.  But I never finished.  It's on a 29 count linen, using three strands...hmmm...

April is Green!  Let's take a walk and count the many shades. 

The leaves of the Cottonwood shine bright against the darker Douglas Fir trees.

This tiny meadow is very wet (it even has a small pond).  In the Spring, the color of the new grass is a shocking new pea green.

And Spring is revival and regeneration.
I love the new shoots of the Large False Solomon's Seal(Maianthemum racemosum).

Green and white is a lovely combination too.  Not sure what this wilding is; a Cherry most probably. 

There are a gazillion kinds of willow.  I like the olive green catkins on this one. 

The Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum) is growing.  The plants will get anywhere from 4 to 6 feet tall.

Nothing matches the green new shoots of Corn Lilies (Veratrum californicum).   

This is the smaller Star Flowered False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum stellatum).  

The Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) will soon be green with yellow flowers.  

This meadow is full of clumps of darker green wild Oregon Iris (Iris tenax).  Soon the color of the meadow will change from green to lavender. 

New green leaves on one of the many shrubs at the edge of the woods. 

Even the Big Leafed Maples are getting into the game.  They are in full chartreuse bloom and awash in pollen. Soon the Grosbeaks should appear to enjoy the feast.
That's all for today - Dodge an April Shower and enjoy the Outdoors! 

13 comments:

Vickie said...

Oh Beth, the Noah's Ark Feather Tree is wonderful. :)

geeky Heather said...

Hmm, 3 strands on 29-count? You wanted a very sturdy ark! =)

Those corn lilies remind me of a plant I saw in Alaska, except the leaves I saw looked paler green on one side (they're about halfway down this post: http://lottloft.blogspot.com/2011/07/cruising-to-juneau.html) What do you think? Same family maybe? I've given up asking people what plants are when we visit somewhere because they SO rarely know!!

Ann at Beadlework. said...

It looks like a very fiddly stitch but nice all the same. It's funny how we abandon projects and then when we take them out we see them with fresh eyes.

Edgar said...

What a super WIP - from what Magazine did this come??

carol fun said...

Oh I remember that Noah's Ark piece - wasn't that the BHG Cross stitch magazine? I loved that back in the 80's. Too bad I passed them on.

Great walk in the woods - so many shades of green and they all look so pretty!

Mouse said...

oooo you keep finding them don't you ..lol
and green is fab .... we have had lots of grey days here with torrential rain and hail storms ... I haven't managed to dodge on yet ..lol love mouse xxxx

Maggee said...

I think drab brown is the color around my digs, due to dead grass! But the tomato plants are still alive and we just planted peppers and cucumbers. I have to plant green bean seeds or instruct hubby at least... the corn lilies are my fave. Guess it is the ridges breaking up the leaves... Got a new camera today that should take great pictures! Part of my vacay spending... Going to Florida with most of my family! Hubby is staying home--his loss! Hugs!

Barb said...

That ark will be one large project!! Love all your shades of green. One time I did leaf rubbings with a class and all the shades of green were amazing!

Anonymous said...

Have to tell you that April is rainy, grey and cold! Maybe the green will grant us some apparition by the month of May. We all look a lot gloomy after sunny's February and March.
Love the Noah's Ark, specially the row of elephants (I collected elephants for a long time, now I only have some special items on my shelves)
This WIP looks really really wonderful.
Hugs

Siobhán said...

That Noah's Ark is so pretty! I'd say to keep at it, there's so little left to finish, but I have a few of those UFOs/WIPs myself, so I'll keep quiet. ;)

Lovely outdoor pictures! We are having cooler weather this week but I am always amazed at how many are out at the park, enjoying the fresh air. It's so nice--as long as the sun is shining!

Sarah Beth said...

I love this sampler. Which magazine is it from. I think I have a similar copy. Love the animals on it. Almost reminds me of a Donna killer design.

Melanie said...

3 strands? Yikes. That doesn't sound like much fun to me. lol

Robin said...

What a beautiful sampler! I believe it's a Sandy Orton design. I was told that Cross Stitch & Country Crafts magazine (best cross stitch magazine ever, IMHO) used three strands in their projects so they would photograph well.

I'm in a similiar situation, I also have a three-stranded half-finished sampler from the magazine tucked away in a UFO drawer. I pull it put once in a while and think about working on it. I think the 3-strands deters me.

But now I'm wondering what you are going to do? I feel like it's an end of the season cliff-hanger: "is she or isn't she going to work on it, stayed tuned..." LOL! It's really beautiful!