Crabapple blossoms

The Planting of the Apple-Tree

by William Cullen Bryant

What plant we in this apple-tree?

Sweets for a hundred flowery springs

To load the May-wind's restless wings,

When, from the orchard row,

he pours It's fragrance through our open doors;

A world of blossoms for the bee,

Flowers for the sick girl's silent room,

For the glad infant sprigs of bloom,

We plant the apple-tree.

Spring rain

Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves; now the woods put forth their blossoms, and the year assumes its gay attire.

Virgil

Welcome spring flowers

Lily-of-the-valley - just emerging.

"You are as welcome as the flowers in May."

Charles Macklin

Seeding

"Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer the goal."
Elbert Hubbard

Random

Photography Challenge Week 20: Random

On my patio are little violas that are always the first to welcome the spring.  Many years ago, I grew some in a pot - the seeds dropped between the stones, and these little flowers have been coming up wherever they please ever since.

And I wove the thing to a random rhyme, for the Rose is Beauty, the Gardener, Time.

Austin Dobson

Sunset

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.

Rabindranath Tagore 

(1861 - 1941)

Moose

What a surprise yesterday!  2 moose were sauntering along, munching their way across my yard.  I had enough time to go back inside - grab my camera - snap a few photos - go in and get a different lens - go back out and shoot a few more.  Thankfully, they were obliging, and were not in any hurry.

In springtime, moose lose their winter hair, and look a little ragged.

The continued existence of wildlife and wilderness is important to the quality of life of humans.

Jim Fowler

Pure

Photography challenge week 19: Pure

This challenge was definitely a challenge for me.  The only thing that came to mind was the old saying "Pure as the driven snow".  Thankfully the snow has disappeared and the little we find in the deepest hollows does not look "pure".  I realized how pure the fresh air smells in springtime, so that is what I tried to capture.  I don't know whether I succeeded.

Morning ...

... and evening

Live each season as it passes, breathe the air, drink the drink, eat the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.

Henry David Thoreau

Old and new

Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.

Frank Gehry

Nesting Dove

This dove decided to nest right outside my window.

The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship.

William Blake

Bedding Plants

The anticipation of planting the first bedding plants.

The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.

Gertrude Jekyll

Cultivator

Photography Challenge Week 18: Down
Many times I'm looking "around" for subject material, but not "down".  I challenged myself to look down this week.  I also gave myself the additional challenge to make a piece of farm equipment look interesting.

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Budapest River Bus

I laughed when I saw this river bus in Budapest.  It reminded me of the old song by The Who

 

I don't want to cause no fuss

(Too much, the Magic Bus)

But can I buy your magic bus?

(Too much, the Magic Bus)

Serendipity

2 evenings ago I was walking around my yard with my camera looking for a subject.  I noticed that the sun was making some dried weeds look quite lovely.  I set my camera down low to the ground, looked in the viewfinder and could not believe my eyes.  I snapped the photo - this was the result.  For now, I will not attempt to understand the physics of camera lenses that allowed me to capture this image.  I prefer to just enjoy it.

Serendipity

Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you’ve found is more suited  to your needs than what you thought you were looking for.

Lawrence Block

May morning

Another May new buds and flowers shall bring

Ah! why has happiness no second spring?

Charlotte Spring (Elegiac Sonnets)