Pic Today 4/5/12

TULIP TIME

Nothing says "spring" like

tulips in bloom.

It's now,

when new tulip colors and variations

are "showing off",

that I remember the importance

of planting bulbs in the fall.

(Always worth it.)

Tulips originated in Turkey, centuries ago,

where it was the custom

to wear a tulip in one's turban.

When Europeans discovered tulips,

they mistakenly gave them their name,

which comes from the Persian word for turban.

I always laugh when I see admirers

smelling tulip blossoms.

Fact is, most tulips have no fragrance.

(Same for camelias.)

They make up for it in sheer beauty.

Pic Today 4/4/12

MAYAPPLES IN APRIL

Walk in the woods this time of year,

and you're sure to see mayapples

in the shady undergrowth.

It's no wonder they're also called "umbrella plants"

like little beach umbrellas on the forest floor.

They're early this year (like everything else),

with flowers due to emerge in May.

American indians harvested the "apples"

in early summer, to treat

constipation and rheumatism.

Pic Today 4/3/12

PEGASUS FALLEN

Without a left wing,

still unmistakable.

Pegasus resides, resting,

at a beautiful horse ranch

in the backwoods of Missouri.

Just visible from the road,

I stopped to capture

this image.

(I love photos with stories built in.)

Pic Today 4/2/12

THE DOG DAYS

OF SPRING

Flowering dogwoods, that is!

Our early, warm Spring has helped

our pink and white dogwoods

put on a show.

Woof!

Pic Today 4/1/12

TICKS . . .

NATURE'S LITTLE VAMPIRES

. . . one of the prices we pay

for a mild winter & warm Spring.

Global warming brings us warmer winters,

early Springs and flowers a month early.

With the beauty comes the beasts!

We need blistery cold winters

to control and limit insect pests,

especially mosquitoes and ticks.

(Ugh.)

On all my hikes this Spring,

I am covered with ticks.

(I hate ticks.)

They drop from trees, climb on your clothes,

and eventually "latch on" to suck blood.

They also transmit lyme disease!

When you come inside, best to check for ticks.

Especially on your pets and children.

And if they do "latch on", grab some tweezers,

squeeze around their head, and pull straight up.

(Helpful diagram above.)