Spring in Black and White

 

 

 

This Is What I Came Home To --

 

Worth a Closer Look

Catalpa blooms in central France (and goes by the name catalpa in Paris, too, which makes things easy), as well as in the American Midwest, and it has a relative in Arizona's desert willow (not a true willow), which was blooming in the Southwest back in May. Giant trees covered with blooms are magnificent, but I always love to look more closely at the blossoms, which remind me of orchids.

Not Roses This Time

This time of year reminds us that not all flowers bloom near the ground. These roadside poplars, willows (weeping and black), and maples are blooming now in Leelanau County, and the first couple apricot trees along M-22 are showing their first blossoms. Soon it will be time for cherry and apple orchards to deck out in their annual finery. 

The Humming That Makes Me Happy

When I shut off the mower Monday evening,

I heard a wonderful sound:

BEES!

You probably cannot see them

among the basswood blossoms,

but there were there in force.

The tree was humming. 

Such a relief after last year's silence!

"O, frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"

No, That Isn't Snow on the Ground!

Linden Blossoms

This particular linden is called basswood. Its late blossoming is something to look forward to when spring is over.

The flowers are small and unspectacular, but they have an alluring fragrance, attracting buzzing crowds of happy bees. Linden honey!

There is the magic of the present moment and also the magic of literary association. The latter transports me to Russia a hundred years ago, where I am Doctor Zhivago, inhaling the fragrance of linden blossoms through train windows....