Last Friday I joined a few people at Beaman Park in Nashville for a wildflower walk with Deb Beazley from the Warner Park Nature Center.   The most important lesson?  No matter how much you think you are at seeing things, there is always so much more!!   Most of the blooms we saw were really tiny!   Someone on the hike identified Ginseng and Wild Ginger.   Did you know that there is a Wild Geranium and Dwarf Iris?   Sunshine and raindrops abound and little creatures crawling, flying and blending in with nature.

Bedstraw...named this as it was used dried to stuff mattresses in the olden days.

Ferns abound on the trail to Henry Creek.

Millipede

Shooting Star

Oak Seedling and Fiddleheads

Antennaria aka Pussytoes

Water Snake

Not sure who this guy is but I love the way the light falls through him.

Blueberry Bush

Wild Hydrangea

Snails in Henry Creek

Wild Yam Leaf

Wild Dwarf Iris

Wild Geranium

Fire Pink, named not for the color, but after pinking as in pinking shears.

Zebra Swallowtail

Actually I should say month.  So much happening  I know I am not alone in the great transition of this decade.  This spring has been exceptionally beautiful which is making the transition more enjoyable.  All the blooms are full, baby birds are hatching and the smells are amazing.  This morning I was walking down Riverside and smelled …. mmmmm sweet licorice ….. the Locust tree full of its white blooms, much like a Wisteria bloom, is very reminiscent Jagermeister.  Happy morning to me!!  

It is also such a bitter sweet time as I am leaving my house and moving on….just up the street with a lake view…. not a bad switch but still a little painful.   And this past Friday I helped my long time kitty companion make his way to kitty heaven.  We have been together for 17 years and this kitty witnessed my life all the ups and downs.  He lived quite a life!!!   I will miss you sweet Pita.   More on this later. 

I have so many flower images to share…. starting with this little white flower that popped up a few weeks ago along with violets.   

We all know what these are. Their bright yellow flowers either repel some people or make others smile.  They make me smile!   The dandelion is more than just what some say, a weed.  Have you ever eaten dandelion greens.. they are delicious!  You can also eat the yellow blooms.  I read where you can add them to salads to add color, texture and an unusual bittersweet flavor or batter and sautee them.   The taproot is also edible.  The leaves are full of vitamins and minerals.   My favorite part is the seed head.  They remind me of a lion’s mane.  Yards are full of them!! 

Beautiful bleeding heart from my neighbor’s yard in Old Hickory.  She is very proud of this little plant!  

This year the wisteria is about twice the size it was last year!   It is so lush and the bumble bees are having a grand time working in this fragrant and colorful gift from nature.  

One of the best things about spring is the arrival of the beautiful pink blossoms of the saucer magnolia tree.  It brings hope to the late winter blahs and blues.  They are just beautiful with either gray skies or blue skies.  As the petals fall of the tree to reveal it’s leaves it creates this beautiful plush carpet under the tree.  I could spend hours documenting this magnificent tree!

This is Molly.  She loves a nice pat and chin rub.  She is such a lovely pup!!

And then there is Linus.  My! How he has grown!  He may look menacing but this guy has a heart of gold and is just a big baby.   The first photo was taken last summer.