• Monday-What'sUP May 15 - 10:21 pm

Colors are popping out all over here UP North. This first photo, taken by Karen Karl, is a round-lobed Hepatica, which flowers in April and May. Karen says this flower gets its name from the unique three-lobed leaves of the plant, which resemble the lobes of a liver. Not a very dainty name for such a pretty little flower. The next photo is that of a Grape Hyacinth, which I found in Rebecca Frederick's Gallery. This is one that's hardy and easy to grow, coming back year after year and multiplying as they do. It's plain to see where this flower gets its name. In addition to flowers adding brilliance to the scenery this time of year, the budding leaves join the show too. The last two shots I took when out exploring last week. Both are from a Maple tree, giving us a peek at the leaves beginning to sprout and the early start of what is called Maple Keys (Samaras). For perspective on size, those keys are quite small yet, only about half an inch across, but will grow to be somewhere around 3 to 4 inches. This is how Maple trees propagate, since they're actually seeds that whirl through the air like helicopter rotors, landing on fertile soil to start a new shoot, which will someday be a giant Maple too. I remember as a kid taking handfuls of these whirlybirds and tossing them into the air just to watch them spin to the ground.

Yes Mary, Wasn't that fun with the "whirlybirds"? We also used to pull them apart and stick them on the ends of our noses. Kids. We had such a good time with the simplest of things back then. These are great shots. You must have had such a fun day on your birthday. Have a good week.

Love the pictures - esp. the 1st one because Hepaticas were all over the place where I grew up in troll land.

Mornin'

Morning everyone,

Seeing the pretty flowers this morning reminds me I have to "brighten" up the front of our new house by planting some flowers out front, and a few ferns in back to keep the paleontologic/geologic theme. With copper from the Keweenaw, jasper and kona from Ishpeming and others, we definitely have the most colorful rock garden on the block ;-)

Here (I hope) is the image of an oddity I found walking with my sons many years ago. It was unusual enough to keep and share:

What a beautiful picture---worth being a screen saver for ones computer.
I can remember walking up to Swede Town Creek with olde Grandpa and Grandma Spear from West Hancock. They were our neighbors for years. We would go up there and check out all the pretty spring flowers and know that summer was just around the corner. We would walk up the olde railroad tracks and then take the paths in the woods. There was a pretty white flower called Arbutis----it was so dainty and grew in the wild. We would pack a lunch and eat our picnic by the stream which was always high from the snow melt off. Those were the good olde days.

nice pics wish I were there now.

I nominate that first picture for the WOW.

Beautiful pictures!

A very good morning! Just got home from my daughters home in PA, while visiting there I missed my lilac's in bloom. My youngest daughter took pictures of them and sent them to me. "Happy Mothers Day" she said. Kids they are the best :o) https://pasty.com/pcam/katieann75?&page=3 check it out.

Oh how beautiful......God has truly blessed us with the beauty in nature......not to mention Spring at last !!!!!