Around the Yard

Just a few photos from around the yard today, with not a lot to say.  We had a few absolutely perfectly beautiful days last week, and then it turned stormy, gray, and colder.  Colder as in freezing tonight and possibly snow, welcome to WI! 

Playing with the new camera a little the other day, I shot these birds that were up high and far enough away that the other camera wouldn't have gotten them at all.  I didn't even know what kind of bird I was shooting until they were uploaded onto the computer and saw that there was a robin.  Either the camera is better or I need new glasses-or maybe both:)  Don't let these unassuming looking flowers fool you, they bloom first and then turn into gigantic leaves, I mean HUGE!!  It's a crazy plant, invasive, likes it wet & shady, but the leaf size is so impressive we couldn't resist.  The advantage of having enough property to play around with the oddball stuff.   

Pussywillow past it's prime.  It's one of the first plants I bought when we moved here 20 years ago.  We've never trimmed it back, so it's now a huge tree/shrub/mass!  Live & learn:)    

Despite the weather, a sure sign that spring is still here, just taking a slight break for a day or so, is the bud of a lilac bush.  These were here when we bought the house, I've always wondered how old they are.  They're really too big for a lilac bush, but again, don't really have the heart to trim them back, we'll just call it a little history of the house.  Last photo for today, the first tulips of the year.  The gardens are greening out nicely, and buds popping everywhere, so more to come soon:)  Will have art to show tomorrow if all goes well.  Almost done with the 3rd lady of the series, but a case of some kind of "ick" got me a few days ago, so I've been keeping a low profile, being too dizzy to do much art or it would've been done by now-irritiating delay!                        

Comments

[Jen]

Any idea what the latin name of the big leaf plant? I have just such a wet/shady spot that it might fit in.

Hope the ick clears soon. ((xoxo))

[Kathy McElroy]

Love your pictures. You have really captured spring.

[Kris]

Awesome photos!! Those bird shots are just so cool.

[somepinkflowerss]

my *Whole Life* i have wanted
to grow pink tulips...

no can do in florida!
so thanks for sharing with me.

:-)

please post morepinkflowers
if you get the chance....

[somepinkflowerss]

oh, i almost forgot...

get near those tulips, missy.
if you spend time around somepinkflowers
your ~~ick~~
will go away.

:-)

seriously....

[Linda Warlyn]

Gorgeous photos, Sue! Hope you're feeling better. xox

[Maija Lepore]

No way! That's in your yard?!??!

[Susan Tuttle]

Such gorgeous photos around your yard! - especially the ones of the birds.

I love the photos of the nests in the previous post - I have always wondered how birds are programmed to do that - amazing!

Susan

[Tammy Vitale]

wow - impressive bird photos! I want that camera!

We have lilacs but they are dying - they were here when we arrived as were 3 pussy willows, which I greatly love, that are long gone. They caught some kind of something and died in successive years which was sad because they were quite large. My purple tulips did great this year (no pictures) but my azaleas aren't blooming at all! (the ones that could, not having been eaten entirely by grazing deer). I just read a wonderful article on making concrete leaf art for the garden - your mystery plant sounds like it would be the perfect leaf! They suggest large and veiny (is it veiny?) THanks for sharing!