Spring!

Violets 

Springtime is a favorite time of year. Though the access to the backcountry is limited in the spring, the quiet reawakening of life in the valley never ceases to inspire. To look closely at what was so recently a barren hillside covered with decomposing leaves and needles, and discover a variety of tiny flowers, pushing through what so recently appeared dull and lifeless, is thrilling.

Do you know what this flower is?

Even the new leaves appearing on the willows beside the river capture interest. In their early unfurling they are reminiscent of chalices uplifted.

New leaves along the river

 A favorite early spring flowers is the Spring Beauty. They remind many of us of chubby little hands bringing bouquets to put in cups upon the windowsill -  small children delighting in the gift that they can offer. Year after year, Spring Beauties always seemed to come back in abundance, even after the children's harvest from our property. 

Spring Beauties - emerging from last year's decay

The lupine flowers are lovely when they start to bloom, but the foliage that comes first is also unique -with the drops of water shining like little crystals in the troughs of each leaf. 

Lupine leaves with crystal beads of water from a recent rainfall