Meadow Lands
The juvenile eastern bluebird keeps watch over the Wachusett Meadow Audubon in Princeton, MA.
The juvenile eastern bluebird keeps watch over the Wachusett Meadow Audubon in Princeton, MA.
This chipmunk has mastered knee bend routines in his favorite spot in the Zen garden.
I wasn’t the only one working in my yard yesterday. Fortunately, we all managed to take breaks between our labors on this warm Spring day.
Whether they spread out like cushions around my feet, or provide unexpected bursts of color in the semi-shade, early Spring perennials liven up my yard walks.
Less than three weeks ago, my Zen garden was snow-covered. Today, the white stone “river” is flowing down from the azalea, past the water irises. The bird has a perfect view from the bench.
A Zen garden is a perfect place to contemplate ever changing conditions.
The female Northern Cardinal has taken a keen interest in my garden preparations this week.
The apple tree has become the favorite perch of the Northern Cardinal.
Just three days after a fast-moving snowstorm, plants are popping up around my feet, thanks to the strengthening Spring sunshine. Walk lightly!
These days, I take time to savor each view on my rare car trips in search of necessary items.
Yesterday’s Spring snowstorm transformed my azalea bush.
A fast-moving snowstorm delayed my plans to mulch the garden today.
Local businesses are finding creative ways to service customers during this time of social distancing. One of my favorite nurseries allows online ordering. Pay in advance, drive to the store and park at the curb. Look for your name prominently displayed on a filled wagon or basket. Pull your purchases to your trunk, load up, return the wagon, and drive home!
So many designs to choose from!
Forsythia and red maple buds appear at the same time in Massachusetts, lending a sorely needed explosion of color to the early Spring landscape.
Squirrels like to frolic among the decorative forsythia branches, but they are particularly attracted to the maples. They “tap” them by making single bites in the bark to get the sap flowing, so they can consume the concentrated “syrup” once some of the water has evaporated. Later, the squirrels enjoy a feast of buds and flowers.
Continuing my stay-at-home explorations in the kitchen, I now head to my cupboard to find ingredients, instead of going to the grocery store. Canned garbanzo beans, peanut butter and bottled lemon juice combined for a smooth, zesty hummus. I didn’t miss the tahini or fresh lemon.
I used egg replacer in my chocolate cake mix, and saved the real eggs for Easter. Replacing the oil with Greek yogurt led to a dense, moist batch of cupcakes.
An excerpt from a poem by Massachusetts’ own Emily Dickinson.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
-Emily Dickinson