Spring Fever or Spring Lethargy?

By Cathy

It’s getting warmer outside; the earth is turning green and flowers are blooming. As spring arrives have you felt your energy level rising, your mood lifting? Have you been a little restless? It’s Spring Fever! You’ve caught Spring Fever! After many long dark dreary days of winter, you feel like you can breathe again and enjoy the rebirth of nature.

But, not everyone feels energetic. For some, it is a season of leaden limbs, fits of yawning, irritability, headaches, and aching joints. It's not Spring Fever, it's Spring Lethargy. Spring Lethargy is similar to a mild case of jet lag. Our bodies are out of rhythm. It hit me this past week. I've been moody and generally overcome with fatigue. Of course, part of that may be the fact that I’m already dreading the heat and humidity of summer! It’s a little depressing to be out-of-sorts on these beautiful spring days. 

Yesterday, I couldn’t find anything I wanted to do. There was yard work that needed done and laundry and this blog post, but I didn’t want to do any of them, so I went for a drive. I didn’t go too far from home; just wandered the highways and back roads. Arkansas highways are beautiful this time of the year. Throughout the state, approximately 200,000 acres of roadsides along approximately 1,000 miles of highways have been planted with wildflowers. Along those stretches of highways you can see red clover, daisies, coneflowers, Queen Anne’s lace, black-eyed Susans, milkweed, and others. Now, that’s a sight that will cheer you up!

I’ve always wanted to stop along the highway and take pictures of the red clover, but there’s never been a safe place to pull over. Finally, on my drive I found the perfect spot. I was able to pull into a parking lot at the bottom of a hill covered in wildflowers, mostly red clover. Of course, it was the middle of the day and the light was harsh, but you know what? I DIDN'T CARE!! I was thrilled to be among such beauty. Needless to say, it certainly uplifted my mood.

Although finding the clover made me feel better, I discovered something else that made me laugh out loud. I'd gotten off the highway preferring the slower pace of back roads. That's where I discovered a camel. Yes, a real camel. Now, that's something you rarely see in Arkansas unless you visit the zoo or an animal wildlife reserve. I discovered that his name was Larry. A couple had also stopped to see him and they began calling his name. He came right up to the fence. They scratched his head. Not me, I stayed my distance, seems to me camels like to spit when provoked! I certainly didn't want to provoke him. He looked so happy and had such a beautiful place to roam with plenty of shade and a large pond nearby. At one point, he laid down, rolled over, and kicked his feet in the air. Sorry I have no pictures of that. He was too far away and in the deep shade. He certainly looked like he was enjoying spring!

I’m glad I got out of the house. It was a nice day full of surprises. There is hope for Spring Lethargy sufferers! This only lasts about two or three weeks as our bodies adapt to the processing of seasonal changes. So be kind and gentle to yourself, give yourself time to adjust.

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is.

And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know

what it is you do want,

but it just fairly makes your heart ache. you want it so!

~ Mark Twain

Spring, Glorious Spring!

by Cathy

If spring has arrived in your part of the world I’m sure your delighted with the beauty of daffodils, crocus, tulips, azaleas, and budding trees. If you've not been taking many pictures during the dark and dreary days of winter, now is the time to dust of your camera and head outside. With so many spring blooms the possibilities are endless. You might be interested in landscapes or filling the frame with flowers or capturing intricate details. I find myself drawn to a different view; a more earthy view. I celebrate spring by capturing things that are not attention seekers.

I'm delighted when I find spring's first little critters. This little lady was trying very heard to hide between the prickles of the gumball, but she just couldn't do it. She was much too colorful. I'm surprised she wasn't sneezing with all the pollen on her back!

In the spring, I find my eyes are constantly on the ground. Searching for tiny bits of color among the greens of spring. 

 Of course, I do capture the showy flowers now and them. How can I resist?

One last photo, I had to share is of my wisteria bush. It must have loved the warmer winter we had, because it's branches are so full they're laying on the ground!

Whatever you chose to photograph as a way to celebrate spring, I hope you'll share with us in the Focusing On Life Flickr gallery. Oh, don't forget, we're adding a little word art this month.

"And Spring arose on the garden fair,

Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere,

And each flower and herb on earth’s dark breast

Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."

~ Percy Bysshe Shelley,

“The Sensitive Plant”

Lovely Little Flowers...A Study in Violets

by Kelly

The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness. ~Therese of Lisieux

I've got a yard full of them.

From the back yard popping up in the lawn, to the front yard growing up out of tiny crevices in our sidewalk, I've got violets growing everywhere.

These common blue violets are wildflowers, and this time of year they can be seen flowering throughout the entire eastern portion of the United States.  Although most people call them weeds, I call them darling...enchanting even.

So I decided to geek out a bit and learn a little more about these delightful little flowers. If you're interested, here are a few facts about violets:

1. Violets {Violet Sororia} are the state flower for New Jersey, Rhode Island, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
2. Before being upstaged by roses, violets were considered to be the traditional Valentine's Day flower.  They celebrate celebrate modesty, virtue, faithfulness, humility, and happiness.
3. Violets were Napoleon Bonaparte's signature flower.  He used them to cover his wife Josephine's grave when she died, then later he donned the name 'Corporal Violet' during his exile.
4. Violets have some nutritional value...the petals and stems contain high amounts of vitamin C.
5. Violets have the ability to self-pollinate by means of an underground 'flower' which can then disperse a large number of seeds.

Besides all of these interesting facts, what I particularly love about them is their lovely shade of violet (for which they are named)...a color at the end of the visible spectrum of light (somewhere between blue and purple).  In addition, I find their delicate little flowers to be so graceful in the garden.  Quiet and subtle...a sweet harbinger of spring.

And I also love the idea of wildflowers in general.  Less needy and demanding than garden perennials, violets grow and bloom and live without fanfare.  Doing their work of making seeds to ensure future generations.  Tenacious and persistent, violets endure the longest winters and harshest summers.  They are survivors.

Yes, there is room for every kind of flower in my garden.  And today I wanted to celebrate the humble violet... so grateful for its special charm.

Until next time,

Kelly

Flowers Make You Feel Better....

by Deanna

Yesterday we glimpsed beautiful views of Leigh's spring garden so today I thought I would you bring you along on another view of a different kind of garden, the spring wildflowers garden here in my world.  Unlike our designed gardens that grace our front and backyards, wildflowers tend to grow in scattered unplanned areas, usually found at the base of wooded regions.

We have had an up and down kinda spring here, not unusual, and when the sun did shine the wind would be howling which is certainly not conducive to photographing flowers of any sort. But last Thursday was darn near perfect. I headed to the Arboretum but on the way, I decided to stop at a spot that has always intrigued me.  Just off the road, there is a forest preserve that was calling my name. The parking lot was minimum and there seemed to be only one way to walk.  I could hear the sound of a rushing stream, but it wasn't visible from the parking lot. Walking toward the sounds I found mini trails that wandered into the woods beside the streams. Birds chirping, water spilling over rocks, slight breeze, and wildflowers at my feet, a God-like moment. I don't know about you, but spending time in a natural environment, seeing the works of Nature in it's purest form nurtures my soul to it's core.

"Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul."  ~  Luther Burbank

Walking through nature's treasure land lowers my blood pressure, calms my brain from worry, and brings that peacefulness that we all need in our noisy, list driven, full calendar lives.

 I was thankful there was a path to follow, worn down from others seeking solace. If you stepped off the path the many wildflowers growing at my feet would be in danger of trampling, so watching where I stepped was uppermost in my thoughts.

I admit that dandelions are not my favorite, especially if seen growing in my yard, but when I catch one at the edge of the flowing water which creates beautiful bokeh, I must stop and capture that sight. FYI - having a sparkling stream behind your subject creates wonderful bokeh.

 After wandering the path for awhile, I came to a crossroads and not knowing which path to take, I turned around and wandered back to the main road.  But, I'll be back, it should be spectacular in the fall.  I continued on to the Arboretum, knowing that some of the spring blooming trees would be on the wan, along with the early spring flowers.  I certainly wanted to capture their final moments before they faded away until next year.

The redbuds are so stunning with their bright pink buds and blossoms.  As they begin to fade the sweet heart shaped leaves emerge.

Some trees, as they come forth  have the most beautiful leaves, becoming something entirely different when fully grown.

And finally I came across this group, sunbathing on a log, not a care in the world.  Being a turtle some days might be a nice idea.

Life Is A Grand Adventure, Go Live It

Oh my goodness, I have been in the great state of Texas since last Wednesday afternoon and to say I am having a great time is a definite understatement.  I grew up in Dallas, but left at the age of 20, way before my passion for photography and viewing my surroundings in a whole different manner was born.  Being back here and enjoying the sites and sounds around me once again is definitely a whole new and delightful experience.

I registered for a class sponsored by the Dallas Arboretum entitled "Photographing the Wildflowers of Texas" with a former photographer from Southern Living Magazine.  Wow, sign me up. No hesitation there.  So instead of a bunch of words, I am just going to show you the extreme beauty I have been surrounded by for the last few days.  I won't be leaving until Thursday evening to return home, so I still have a couple of days left to savor the sights.

One morning the fog was thick and created such wonderful images....

And then there is the animals....

And the flowers....oh my goodness, the flowers.

This morning we drove around an area that is filled, I mean filled with blooming bluebonnets. But without internet, yes, I am sitting in a coffee house creating this post, I did not have the time to download the 500 more images sitting on my camera.  So check my personal blog in the next week to see more of the beauties of the Texas Hill country.

Make a Comment

By Cathy

“And that is just the point... how the world, moist and beautiful, calls to each of us to make a new and serious response. That's the big question, the one the world throws at you every morning. "Here you are, alive. Would you like to make a comment?” 
~ Mary Oliver

how will you respond today?