In With The New - Spring Iris - Missoula, Montana

"The day can't be more beautiful. The skies are blue all the way to the heavens...And the bracingly cold air reminds me with each new breath of my continuing existence as a living creature on this planet. "

-Dead By Dawn, A Mike Bowditch novel by Paul Doiron, p. 405, Lg type

Out From The Old - Missoula, Montana

"...Put your faith in the two inches of humus

that will build under the trees

every thousand years...

Practice resurrection."

 - from Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front by Wendell Berry

Looking Up - Yelllow Snow Crocus - Missoula, Montana

...imagining a wee mousie's view of the stalwart yellow snow crocus...

(thank you to thebesottedbookworm for the charming mousie inspiration, and Big Sis 1 for the share !) 

Brave Crocus - Missoula, Montana

"Fair-handed Spring unbosoms every Grace; throws out the Snowdrop and the Crocus first." - from Spring Flowers by James Thomson (1700-1748)

Thumbelina Tulip - Missoula, Montana

"“It is a beautiful flower,” said the woman, and she kissed the red and golden-colored leaves, and while she did so the flower opened, and she could see that it was a real tulip. Within the flower, upon the green velvet stamens, sat a very delicate and graceful little maiden. She was scarcely half as long as a thumb, and they gave her the name of “Thumbelina,” or Tiny, because she was so small. A walnut-shell, elegantly polished, served her for a cradle; her bed was formed of blue violet-leaves, with a rose-leaf for a counterpane. " - From 'Thumbelina', by Hans Christian Anderson (1805-1875)

Fuzzy Crocus - Missoula, Montana

"When the winds of March are wakening
the crocuses and crickets,
Did you ever find a fairy
Near some budding little thickets,...
And when she sees you creeping
up to get a closer peek,
She tumbles through the daffodils,
a-playing hide and seek..."- Marjorie Barrows (1892-1983)

Crocus Chorus, Missoula, Montana

“…Spring

hastens in on gossamer wings.
Armed with yellow crocuses that sing….”From
Gossamer Wings By Anita Griffith

Liquid Sunshine At Rest, Hamilton, Montana

Liquid sunshine - before today, I don’t think I’d heard rain so aptly described.

For those of us who hope for rainbows and silver linings on any rainy day, this says it perfectly.

April Showers Hope, Hamilton, Montana

Ah, the hope of April showers!

These classic lines from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Rainy Day” phrase it well:

“…Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.”

Just One Drop, Missoula, Montana

Stalwart little tulip, making the most of early spring rain.

I can image the wee faeries stopping by to admire their reflections, perhaps dip in hands to cool faces hot from a busy spring day’s work.

Plumb’s project song for Blood: Water Mission, “One Drop”, is a perfect spritely accompaniment to any kind of springy efforts. Take a listen here.

Tucked In, Missoula, Montana

With this morning’s temperature at 11 degrees F, it’s a good thing I tucked in the last of my fall bulbs on the weekend, when the low was still a balmy 30 degrees.