stories, photographs, adventures…the next chapter
I went searching for Spring during a late day walk in the woods yesterday. Not much was going on bud-wise, so the evergreens took center stage. Often overlooked in the search for color (well, besides green), the sun made sure I spotted them this time.
A well deserved moment.
I am happy to report that last week’s Macro Monday bud is in bloom! Miracles do happen. At least I like to think they do…with the help of plant food, pruning and many words of encouragement. So, yep, I’m talking to my plants. Sigh.
Totally worth it.
Witness my discovery this morning – alongside another bud ready to join in the action…
The sky is so blue I couldn’t resist a view from below in front of the window…
…Happy Monday everyone!
I’m going to take it as a sign of hope…my decades old Christmas Cactus is showing signs of life after months of…just collecting dust. Lots of dust. Perhaps the fact that I recently gave it a brief shower in the kitchen sink helped. And a shot of fertilizer while I was at it.
My reward? This morning I noticed a BUD…in the sun! Even if it’s the only flower that shows up on my aging plant, it will be a welcome bit of color as we wait for Spring.
In my part of the world Spring arrives in 19 days. I don’t know about you, but I’m (very) impatiently waiting for the change of seasons…more so this year than in the past. I am excited for buds and blossoms…and color!
I searched the archives and found this shot from last April…which, in the meantime, will have to suffice.
One of nature’s most fascinating works of art (in my opinion) is the milkweed pod. I spotted one tucked in a tangle of vines a bit off the path during my walk several months ago. A pod had opened up and hung suspended…but I don’t think I would have noticed it without the sun’s highlighting help.
Strands of milkweed’s distinctive white floss had broken free…and were hanging down ready to release their seeds to the wind. What a sight!
The forest floor before the snow…so many macros bedded down for the winter. I couldn’t decide which one to highlight, so a collage it is.
Happy Monday!
The amaryllis plant I nurtured during the holiday season was fascinating to watch…as it evolved from bulb to greenery to buds to its eventual demise. A welcome distraction from, well, most everything. I am hoping to bring it back to life at some point and it is currently “hibernating” in what I hope is the appropriate dark cool place in our storage unit. We’ll see what happens.
This macro shot was taken January 17th: the third and final bud on the brink of blooming. A moment of foreshadowing the promise of what was to come. I know I was looking forward to it.
Ragtag Daily Prompt: Brink
I realized a rapidly developing obsession with leaves may be taking over my Macro Monday posts. But I am going with it anyway, since…after all…every leaf is unique and deserves its time in the sun. Or at least here on one letter UP.
So many leaves. So little time!
Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Close Ups
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Bright and colorful Autumn leaves get all the attention…all the clicks from photographers. I should know – I’m one of those photographers.
But what about leaves like this one? Not so bright. Not so colorful. Often passed by…unnoticed.
However, I admired the fact that its drab imperfect self was still hanging on, even if just barely. That alone captured my attention.
I think black and white does it justice – outlining a road map of its journey since budding out in the Spring.
A survivor after all.
I returned to see what was happening with the milkweed pods I posted for Wordless Wednesday last week. That WW photo had been taken on September 27th. I originally planned to check them out again before now, but you know, the days just seem to blend in together…and time passed.
However late afternoon on Saturday, it was clouded over and the light was flat. I remembered the milkweeds…which usually photograph well in that kind of light. Cabin fever had risen (again), so I grabbed my camera and escaped out the back door (Exit Stage Right! as Snagglepuss used to say).
I followed a path through the woods to where the milkweed pods had been. Since it is now November, the landscape is basically brown…various shades of brown. It was difficult at first to find them amongst the gone-by plant life.
Luckily, wisps of white perched on top of nearby tall grasses gave away their location. I spotted tall stems with puffy hats. That’s what a strong breeze will do with milkweed “floss.”
And there I found the pods in all their glory.
I braved potential ticks in waiting and crunched through a thick ground cover of leaves and brush.
I was not disappointed.
I also took a special liking to the following image. As the saying goes…it resonated with me…
one letter UP ~ diary 2.0 