Welcome Spring!

April is the month that really ushers in spring, so this Primitivebetty's stitch seems more than appropriate.  

It is also a great time to take a walk and see all that is green and growing.

Come on and take a look! 

Our small meadows are green and purple with clumps of Blue Oregon Iris (Iris tenax).

I am seeing more Camas (Camassia quamash) though they are still a couple of weeks away from being in full bloom.

The Large False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum) is now in bloom.

Sometimes a very small area will have several different wildflowers.  At the back are the tony pink blooms of Shiny Geranium (Geranium - lucidum), in the middle the white blooms and long narrow leaves of Star Flowered False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum stellatum), and in the foreground the three rounded leaves of a young Trillium.   

Here's the very beginning of a Might Oak - this baby is only a few inches tall. 

The new shiny leaves of Poison Oak - beware!

I cannot get enough of Vine Maple (Acer circinatum).  The new leaves are such a vibrant green.

The Vine Maple's red stems and flowers are striking too. 

I found a small patch of Fawn Lilies (Erythronium oregonum) on the bank of the Big Creek. 

 

I cannot believe all the berries on the Indian Plums (Oemleria cerasiformis) this spring.

The bushes are covered with them! I wonder if the Cedar Waxwings will come by to feast.

Our Ash trees are among the last to leaf out in the spring, and the first to lose their leaves in the fall.   

We have several Spanish Bluebells that have happily naturalized. We had them at our old house across the way in a flowerbed.  I wonder what bird or critter brought them over here. 

A nice stand of Wood Violets (Viola glabella) is in full bloom.

We have two Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) on the property.

And back to the Oregon Blue Iris.  I am floored each spring with all the different shades of purple.  This one is very dark and rich colored.   

While this clump boasts two different pale shades of violet.

The Western Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) is in bloom. It is often pronounced as though it is spelled 'Sarvice-berry'. 

As we head into May the young Douglas Fir trees are getting their new growth for the year.  By summer's end the bright green tips will have darkened and be indistinguishable from the older needles on the branches.

Are you tired?  Come on up to the Back Patio and I'll get you a drink.  We can sit outside with the Cat Contingent and watch the birds.