Tag Archives: photos

the most wonderful time of the year {spring ephemerals}

Nothing helps to lift me up at the end of a stressful week like spending some time outdoors.

This time of the year in particular is one of my absolute favorites for geeking out with  plants — the ephemeral wildflowers only show up for a short time each year, and it thrills me to find them! As soon as the leaves branch out completely, the forest floor is too dark to support these beauties.

I was worried that I might miss them this year being about to have a baby any day, but I waddled my 39+ week pregnant body to the woods yesterday and was happy to see how much is already in bloom.

IMG_1010

Red trilliums…

IMG_0970

Trout lily after trout lily…

IMG_0972

Spring beauties…

IMG_0975

And the chicken pox queen finding spring beauties, too…She’s getting to be quite good at plant identification!

IMG_0983

Hepatica…

IMG_0981

Virginia bluebells…

IMG_0980

Squirrel corn…

IMG_0986

IMG_0989

Cut-leaved toothwort and spring beauties…

IMG_0991

Blue cohosh…

IMG_0993May apples….

IMG_0996

And of course ramps…

IMG_1002

What spring wildflowers are showing up where you live?

Spring is on the Way {So is the New Herbal Wellness Basket!}

You know we’re getting closer to Spring in Ohio when it’s 45 degrees outside and I’m pulling out the lawn chair to soak up the sun.

Yes, there may still be snow on the ground, but these spring rays are just begging for someone to soak them up.  I will. IMG_0811

In the past week, the bird song has increased steadily each morning.  In addition to the usual chorus of black capped chickadees and cardinals, I’ve even begun hearing the red-winged blackbirds outside.  This is surely a sign that Winter’s fingers are unfurling their grasp around Northeast Ohio.

With the warming days we’ve been out playing in the yard, and joyfully been exploring the process of tapping our maple trees.  We do, after all, live in the heart of Ohio’s maple syrup kingdom.

IMG_0801 Continue reading →