Summer Puffball

This is commonly known as a weed, though its flower is quite attractive. It's a dandelion and blooms bright yellow in yards across America in the spring and summer. When the flower dies, it turns into this puffball of seeds, which scatter and create new little yellow flower plants in yards across America. This is my first attempt at a super macro shot.

Nasturtium

These little white flowers popped up in my garden this year and I had no idea what they were, as I didn't plant them, nor remember them being there last year. When seeing them in a vase on my dining table, someone asked if they were nasturtium. I shrugged, not knowing, but later looked it up. Sure enough; that's what they are. Gorgeous flowers, and they smell amazing, too. I wish I could post scents for all ya'll on here!

Fields of Gold

I wish I could claim this picture as my own, but a friend of mine, Marci, went walking with her family on a Saturday afternoon and took this fantastic photo. This is a canola field outside of Milton-Freewater. Canola is turned into oil, which is actually healthier for you than vegetable oil, though not as good as olive oil.

The Red Shoe

This shoe belongs to the 18-month-old daughter of a friend of mine. I thought it looked neat sitting the grass without its match, silent in the evening spring light.

Rainy Evening

If you look closely you can see the rain dripping steadily from the roof of my porch. We got a pretty good downpour Saturday evening, and yes, I opened the door to enjoy the sound and smell.

Discovering Spring

In honor of May Day I share with you a shot of my Little Miss checking out the daffodils outside our house. She absolutely loves flowers, and has to point them out whenever she sees any. (It comes out more like, "wa-wee" but we know it's "flowers.") If she can, she'll walk over and "smell" them, which is actually her putting her nose down by the petals and blowing out of her nose instead of sniffing, but she will figure it out eventually. the hat she's wearing was an Easter gift from her auntie.

The Cycle

I love how spring has a predictable cycle. In my part of the world, there is an order to how the pieces of spring fall into place, starting with the crocuses near the end of February or beginning of March. The daffodils are next, bobbing their white and yellow heads across town and soaking in the inevitable spring rains. Tulips follow, in bright yellows, purples, reds, oranges, pinks, whites, and everything in-between, accompanied by hyacinths - pink, white, purple, red and more. As the last of the daffodils shrivel and brown and dry, the dogwoods begin to blossom. And that is where we are today - I've noticed small pink blooms on the trees lining one particular section of College Avenue in College Place, and the infant dogwood pictured here is just a block or so from my office. I also noticed this morning that the lilac outside my office window has tiny dark purple balls ready to pop open any day - that happened over the weekend because last week that bush was still all green! The lilacs will last only about two weeks, the dogwoods about the same, and then come June we'll be blessed with roses that greet us through the summer.

Perspective

A different perspective of yesterday's vista; this is, perhaps, what a small animal would see while perusing the field for dinner. A coyote, perhaps? Or a fox?

Scenic Spring

While out for a drive on the outskirts of the city, we came across a curve in the gravel road that looked out over this breathtaking scene. The deep green of the infant fields, the dusty blue of the newly uncovered mountains, and the grey-white of the unpredictable sky...all of this epitomizes the Walla Walla Valley in April. Welcome to my world.

Lonely, Yet Brave

The only object in the entire field braving the temperamental spring weather was this windmill, which was a fun object to photograph with such a tumultuous, threatening backdrop. This was taken in a field outside of Milton-Freewater.

Layers

I love how the water, island, hills, sky and clouds all seem to come together to create a layered effect. The rivers and creeks in our valley are swelling with the snow melting in the mountains; there have been two minor flood watch warnings already this season, and we didn't get any last year. While that might seem like a bad thing I really am glad to hear it; this means we won't have a drought this summer (or if we do it won't be terrible). This, I believe, is the Walla Walla River.

Another Perspective

I posted the original of this picture earlier this spring; I promise this is my last edited photo for a while, but I'm really trying to learn basic photo editing and have been playing around with different effects. Thanks for putting up with me!

Backyard Flower

A small tree bearing these white blooms has taken up residence along the fence in our backyard. I'm not sure where it came from because no other tree like it is nearby; I suppose that's the beauty of nature; wind, the unseen force, carries whatever it likes and drops them wherever it prefers. No telling where this came from, but I think in early spring it's lovely.

If's Official

Well March 21 was the first day of spring, so it's officially here. The plants seem to realize it, too; every morning I see more buds, more blooms and more green. The valley is returning to life! I found this little beauty on a walk in College Place.

Pour Ciel

This post is special, just for my friend Cieldequimper over at Versailles Daily Photo. I told her a week or so ago that the daffodils should bloom in time for her arrival in the valley, and LOOK! Here they are, Ciel! Ready to welcome you home. Happy Spring, everyone (now that it officially IS spring...)

Signs of Spring 4

Tree flowers! I love this tree, which I pass on my way to most meetings outside my office. In just a few weeks (perhaps even a few days), this tree will be covered in delicate white flowers such as these early arrivals. I just love the lacy look of them and the fragile beauty of the petals on each bloom. I'm not sure what kind of tree this is, but it is probably related to the dogwood.

A Drive in the Rain

It's easy to do this time of year...go for a drive in the rain. If you're lucky, it will clear before you get back inside and you'll get a glimpse of a rainbow against the darkened sky. This shot was taken on a back-road in Milton-Freewater, amongst the orchards and farmhouses. I love driving in the countryside in each of the seasons for special reasons:

Spring: Everything is turning green and everything looks new.
Summer: It's much cooler among the fields, orchards and plants than it is in the city surrounded by cement, brick and asphalt!
Fall: The apples, pears, cherries, and plums are ripe and colourful on the trees.
Winter: The stark contrast of the dark, naked fingers of trees and vines against the white snow and grey skies is fun to photograph.

Multiplication

Okay, are you ready for some wonderful springtime shots from around the WW Valley? Some beautiful new companions have joined what was my single white crocus only a week and a half ago. Aren't they lovely? I love being greeted by this brilliant flash of colour every evening when I pull into my driveway after work. I'm looking forward to taking pictures of the dogwoods again this spring! Their flowers are the prettiest of the season, I think. Also, behind these small blooms you can see the tops of the tulips and hyacinths pushing their way through the warming soil. They were absolutely gorgeous last year; I can't wait to see them again soon! Three cheers for spring!

Signs of Spring 3

I love that everywhere I look there are signs pointing to the change in seasons. Although I still prefer the change from summer to fall, this is an exciting beautification of the earth, as well. I'm looking forward to the large lilac bush outside my office window adding colour to my daytime view again. It's budding green, so it's on its way! New life is emerging on this young tree, too.

Signs of Spring 2

Again, not a black and white photo, but simply taken when the sky was a tad grey. This silhouette of a tree branch in my front yard demonstrates, like yesterday's crocus, that spring is here. The branches of trees across the valley are budding and it excites me; I know that one morning I'll wake up and the dogwoods will be in full pink and white glory and these trees in my front yard will surprise me with bright yellow. I love spring in the Walla Walla Valley!