• Saturday-What'sUP May 13 - 02:29 pm

Donna MacIntosh dusted off her camera and headed out in her Baraga backyard for a closer look at the leaves that are beginning to appear and she found some beauties to be sure. I want to say these are maple leaves, but I'm not certain on that, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I find it amazing that these leaves start out colored like this when first emerging and then return to just about the same color at the end of their journey in the fall. Some of Mother Nature's handiwork.

Donna's last two shots are a follow-up to Wednesday's lead in photo, the field of dandelions. She zoomed in close on one, opened wide and bursting with color and then captured one on the downside, as it turns to a seed head, waiting to be blown about. Did you know they can turn to the seed head like that, overnight? And I'm sure you remember either swirling them around in the air or blowing on them, trying to get them all off with one blow.
We often look at dandelions as pesky weeds, but they can provide benefits beyond bouquets picked by your little ones. They can be used as food and medicine, since they're rich in vitamin A, B complex, C and D, along with the minerals, iron, potassium and zinc. You can use the leaves in salads and teas and the flowers can be made into wine. Native Americans and the Chinese have used them to treat a number of different health problems, too. So maybe instead of trying to exterminate them, we should be learning more about how they can help us and we won't be looking at them with such negativity. Or maybe not...

Either way, you have to admit that nature sure is fascinating, especially this time of year, with all the new beginnings.

Love the reddish colored leaves! What is this plant?

Fun pictures! The beauty of spring!

Beautiful.

Nice set of pics! The first one reminded me of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
Did anyone fall for the gag as a kid, where someone stuck a Dandelion fuzzy in your mouth?

I think the blooming dandelions are pretty, but don't like the 'fuzzies' later. Nope, Alex, I never fell for that one.;)

Donna, what beautiful pics..thank you!

Mother Nature IS truly amazing...and excellent advice Mary....God gave us all we need on this planet, and all our medicine is in the form of plants...Dandelion is a biggy! Thanks!!

Nature shouts the awesomeness of God.

Came across this as I was surfing:

http://www.naturalnews.com/035418_dandelion_cancer_therapy_herbs.html

I am pretty sure that is a Japenese Maple.I have 2 and they are just beautiful in the fall. Donna,I loved all of your picures. Incidentaly were you from Dollar Bay?

That's interesting, Donna, thanks. Suppose that's the reason God gives us an abundant crop in the Spring. Maybe we should all start 'grazing'. (no joke)

Fran, that is what I was thinking they were as well.

I am thinking red maple or mountain
maple. Very hardy small maples with
deep red leaves in early fall.

Fran...I lived in $Bay for awhile....good town!

Not a Japanese Maple, a Yooper red maple. That's how they leaf out in the spring.

Regarding the dandelion, I remember a poem from my childhood. Here it is,thanks to google, by John Tabb:

With locks of gold to-day;
To-morrow, silver gray;
Then blossom-bald. Behold,
O man, thy fortune told!

Thanks for sharing that, Therese, I love poetry.

Sorry hollidays, but there is no such thing as a yooper red maple; try again...

If they grow in the UP, they are Yooper trees.

http://uptreeid.com/Species/maples.htm

Have to hand it to you, Hollidays, that's quick.;)

Thank you, Shirley. Happy Mother's Day to you.

I love dandelions and just returned from a four day backpack trip. One of the treats I brought for our crew was dandelion fritters. They are like pancakes and are made with wheat flower and the florets of dandelions. Oh my goodness are they delicious and keep so well. I get excited every time I see a dandelion as every part of them are edible. I also make some grand jelly with the florets as well. GORGEOUS PHOTOS.

Didn't know about the fritters, Brenda, but my hubby DOES make jelly out of them. And it's really very good!!