Happy Solstice to You

spring has been beautiful

wild orchids sprinkle the woods

but you must look for them

as they are not plentiful or obvious

a visitor, only stayed a couple of minutes

(a black bear)

many days involved visiting flowers

(yep, that is me)

some days are spent chasing Red-napped sapsuckers off of my mountain ash tree, and letting them peck for sap on the alders that grow like weeds

fields of flowers make my heart swell with energy

and 

appreciation for life

collecting wild roses and herbs for tea

a spiritual elixer

tiny green being, the size of an ant 

metallic and busy is a delight to see

bugs galore

visiting my sketch

while sitting in the grass

~

Spring was lovely!

Now to embrace summer and all the gifts it offers.

~

Lovely Solstice to you!

Be it Summer or Winter in your part of the world. 

~

*

Spring an expression of Joy

this little beauty landed near me

maybe 3/4" across

I think it is a female moth, maybe a looper

if you know, please tell me!

another tiny and first meeting

a pygmy bitterroot flower

so pretty

a lovely area of rock terraces

maybe an inch of moss covered soil

the home of vast amounts of flowers!

amongst a sea of colbalt purple larkspur

I found a few lovely white beauties

and

pink:

 walking along a forest path

one big puffball

became dinner:

wild orchids hold a special place in my heart

their season like most wildflowers is brief

the lovely fairy slipper:

spring is lush and green

sunny days and rainy days

wildfire smoke for a few days from Alberta is gone now

I do love all our seasons, 

taking to heart each and every day. 

I hope your spring or maybe your autumn is

offering delight to you, as well.

~

*

Glimpses of Early Spring, NW Montana

I have gotten to see the great gray owls a few times

one day there were two together!

(one hunting and one in a nearby tree)

the tiny world of lichen

looks big with my macro lens

Spring Beauties.....

an early spring flower

a tiny pool where fairies bathe:

found a few yellowbells on a cloudy day:

extra petals on this buttercup:

Last summer into autumn, someone made lacy pattern on all the alder tree's leaves.

The other day I found these tiny iridescent blue beetles on the wheelbarrow handles. 

Looking them up, I found their larvae eat alder leaves. 

Alder flea beetles:

spring is a fun time to explore

the tiny beginnings of new and continued life

~

*

Pasque Flowers

listening to the spirit

that lies beneath the surface

allowing it's languid and lively presence

to permeate awareness

as well as stance

grace rises 

within each breath

abiding a heart

of tender knowing

~

Pasqueflowers are a lovely sign of spring, 

rising through the earth before the grasses

have barely begun to grow.

Sprinkled in meadows and grasslands.

A joyous celebration of new life. 

Lovely Sunday and Easter to you!

!
~

*

Spring's Snow Stars

it was a snow star morning

as though fairies sprinkled them here and there

 

scattering magic throughout the land 

 

tiny snowflakes.... on spring's land

an ephemeral delight

graced with frosty edges

Lovely Spring to You

~

*

Spring Flowers, Montana Style

along the lake shore

kneeling

and 

what do I see

flowers!

(we are still under a foot or two of snow, 

so nothing is blooming yet)

under a layer of ice 

reflections of shadow and light

of snowflake like flowers

this little video reveals a bit of the beautiful story:

 (have your sound on
maybe click on the square under the video to see it large)

I was, still am thrilled by this sweet beauty

something I had never seen before

at home, while going through photos

I zoomed in to find small ice flowers on and in the 
surface layer of ice

they were too small or invisible for my eyes 

to see in person

these ice flowers are how the shadows came to be ...

maybe they are formed much like a snowflake?

have you ever seen this before?

seems like the art of fairy folk, to me.

I have so many gorgeous photos

too much for one post.....

do you have a favorite from the above photos?

~

our world

our precious world

full of endless treasures to bring joy to our hearts

and inspire our minds

nature, truly a spirit helper

~~
sharing with Soma
for
Wandering Camera
( I do feel a bit like a wandering camera ;-))
 

~

*

Evidence of Spring

on the first day of spring

I donned snowshoes and went looking for signs of new life

 it was a warm day at 57F 

snow melts daily and the music of the creek grows louder each day with the thaw

buds of cottonwoods, birch and aspen swell noticeably each day

the furry aspen (male) buds are just beginning to push their way through winters protective shielding

 spring begins slowly in NW Montana, no green, no flowers... still it is happening and is a bit thrilling

it was a joy to see this lovely and healthy orange lichen colony

this cute little pine sisken appears to be posing......

 Each season is a treasure.

Lovely spring or perhaps autumn to you!

~

*

Ice Ice Baby

along the water's edge

find mystery and majesty

crystalline caverns that make one sing

miracles and frozen things

it's winter’s lovely paradise

along the water’s edge

~

*