Spring Fireworks and Photo Ops

Spring comes to the Ozarks in skyrocket bursts, from the popping of crocus buds like silent firecrackers to the bright explosion of forsythia against a dark stone wall. Then the sparks of daffodils and tulips, glowing and intense, underscored by the softer, gentle notes of wildflowers. All of a sudden, rockets of magentas, pinks and bright white punctuate the glowing green background of the emerging trees, as redbuds, dogwoods, flowering cherry open almost before your eyes. There is nothing subtle about an Ozark spring!

Lunaria

Dicentra spectablilis, old-fashioned bleeding heart

Emerging dogwood blooms

Narcissus poeticus, "Poets" narcisus. A very old variety

Pretty pansy faces

Redbuds (cercis canadensis) everywhere

Wild pear

Everywhere you look is a "Kodak moment" with spring! I just can't seem to stop!

Luscious lips: wild ginger. "Give us a kiss?"

New oak leaves

Newly emerging maidenhair fern frond. How delicate!

Rhubarb! I foresee pie in the future!

Wasn't there supposed to be another rhubarb here? What ARE these things?

"Yeah, lady, we ate your rhubarb. Whadda ya gonna do aboudit?"

And the enemy....Poison Ivy (rhus radicans). Where is my Roundup?

Today is a beautiful, rain-washed morning after thundershowers last night. The sun is glowing, the petals of the tulip magnolia litter the deck like a bridal aisle, and I see that there are lilacs blooming and viburnum "Carlessi" is open today. I must go smell them!  

"Nature does her spring housecleaning

with rainclouds for her buckets

And the wind for her broom." --S.P.