The Meadow In Spring

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“Our village life would stagnate if it were not for the unexplored forests and meadows which surround it.  We need the tonic of wilderness. . . . “
~Henry David Thoreau, Walden

 

 

Oh yes….wilderness is indeed a tonic.  It calms me….brings me solace, joy and such delight.  And the best time in the meadow is when it awakens in spring.  It has been hot here.  We went from 50s and 60s to low 70s to high 80s and 90s in mere days.  And the heat and humidity are expected to last another week.  This unexpected summer weather has rushed the garden ahead now so we are catching up!

And I am very excited to show you the highlights from the spring meadow, so here we go…..

 

 

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When the ground warms up in mid-April, the many clumps of daffodils begin to bloom.  These yellow trumpet daffs are the first to flower.  They are Narcissus trumpet ‘Dutch Master’.

 

 

 

meadow daffs collage

And once the weather warms a bit more, the other clumps of mixed daffodils bloom, continually changing from early to mid to even late spring flowers of many styles and colors.  We had a few very late May daffs too.  And the colder May weather allowed the daffs to bloom longer than usual this year.

 

 

 

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Here is a view looking from the back of the meadow towards the house and fence.  I love this view.  The bright green foliage is mostly the native lupines beginning to grow.  My house is the gray one in the upper left corner.

 

 

 

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And here is another view of the lupine foliage.  Isn’t it gorgeous up close and backlit.

 

 

 

trout lily collage

Also growing on the floor of the meadow, in early spring, is the sweet tiny native Trout lily or Erythronium americanum.  I recently wrote a poem about this favorite spring ephemeral wildflower.

 

 

 

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As the meadow grows, many of the shrubs and trees will leaf out…red twig dogwood and a native viburnum are two such shrubs.

 

 

 

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Here is the viburnum….and in the background to the right is the native crabapple tree finally blooming for the first time.

 

 

 

crabapple collage

We were away just as the blooms were opening, and when we returned the blossoms were fully flowering, and just lovely.  They are more white than pink.  Can’t wait to see the little crab apples.  I planted this tree for the fruit loving birds.  Now I just have to keep the deer away.

 

 

 

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This is my native cherry tree.  It has not grown tall, but more like a bush.  I plan to clear plants around the tree to give it an opportunity to grow more.

 

 

 

zizia collage

In the meadow, as mid spring approaches, the first mid-size native plant to flower is Zizia aurea or Golden Alexander.

 

 

 

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And blooming with the Zizia, are the non-native ox-eye daisies or Leucanthemum vulgare, and native wild blue lupines or Lupinus perennis.  The whole meadow transforms to blue, white and yellow…a breathtaking sight that I look forward to every year.

 

 

Here are a few more views…..

 

 

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Ox-eye daisies

 

 

 

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And the glorious lupines here, below and at the top of the post, where you can see the purple native lupines have morphed into at least one pinkish-purple lupine.

 

 

 

lupins collage

 

So what views have been your tonic this spring?

 

 

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In A Vase On Monday 

 

 

two vases collage (1)

I am having so much fun trying to decide what flowers to use for vases….with the heat wave, everything is blooming.  So here are two vases, both with a purple and white theme.

 

 

 

lilac vase collage (1)

The purple Camassia quamash were blooming when we returned from visiting family last weekend, and I knew I wanted to put some in a vase.  And after all the May overnight freezes, I was able to salvage about 6 white lilacs.  The dwarf purple bearded iris were also blooming, and seemed a perfect addition.

 

 

 

lily of valley vase collage (1)

And for my special small vase, I knew I had to have my May birth month flower, Lily-of-the-Valley.  So many blooming everywhere.  I added a few native wildflowers to the LOTV:  the white hanging flower, Dodecatheon meadia or Shooting StarsAmsonia tabernaemontana or Commom bluestar; and the pinkish Geranium maculatum or wild geranium.  They all held up nicely except the Shooting Stars.  They lasted about a day.

 

I am joining in with a few memes this week as I prepare these vases:  Cathy@Rambling in the Garden for her wonderful meme, In a Vase on Monday, Today’s Flowers hosted by Denise@An English Girl Rambles 2016 and Judith@Lavender Cottage who hosts Mosaic Monday on the last Monday of each month.

 

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Next up on the blog:  

Monday, I will have a few highlights of the May garden..it has been an interesting end to May.

I am linking in with Michelle for her Nature Notes meme at her blog, Rambling Woods.  It is a great way to see what is happening in nature around the world every Monday. 

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