My Favorite Flower of Spring

There are so many flowers to get excited about in spring, but I think if I have to pick a favorite, it's probably dogwoods. It wouldn't be an Arkansas spring without them.

Photo: http://extra.mdc.mo.gov/news/out/archive/arc3-2010.html

Zephyrus

Flora and the Zephyrs by John William Waterhouse, via saveflowers1

Standing by the lake a few days ago, I felt a strong, warm wind rush across my face and blow my hair about. It was Zephyrus, the warm west wind, herald of spring.

Apple Blossoms and Violets

There's an old house down the street from us that hasn't had anyone living in it for years. Those are the best kind, because the lawns get overgrown with flowers and vines, and the trees grow wild and blossom as much as they want. This spring, it's really gone wild.

Daffodils in Mythic March

We have daffodils gallor, all around the mailbox, the storm cellar, the bird bath, and along the fence. No crocuses, sadly, but that's to be expected, since the squirrels think we plant them just for them eat. Little blighters.

But to compensate for the lack of real crocuses, I found an excuse to draw myself some; I worked them into the project I'm doing for my Senior Show this semester, which is to illustrate the Volsung Saga. Crocuses grow in Norway, where that ancient myth originates, so I decided to do a landscape scene with the crocuses and one bumble bee. Grace over at Domythic Bliss is conducting Mythic March, so this is my contribution to that for the week.

 In case you're wondering, these are Prismacolor pencil drawings on vellum over a painting on watercolor. The vellum gives the watercolor scenes a wonderful misty, mysterious feel.

As an extra bonus, here is another piece I'm working on that's also part of this project. It's of the tree Branstock, which is a whole other post itself. It's not finished, and the picture doesn't nearly capture the glow coming from behind the tree, but it'll do.

I suppose since it's spring I should turn off the snow and change to a new background, but I'm still a bit reluctant to let go of winter. Ah well, I must do it sometime.

To Drive the Cold Winter Away

I am sitting before a roaring fire today. Why, you might ask, are you sitting in front of a roaring fire when the daffodils are already blooming?

Well, I believe that even the daffodils wish they were sitting in front of a roaring fire.

Yes indeed, that is what happens when you bloom too early. Lady Winter comes and dashes all your hopes, laughs in your face, and coats the trees in ice.

 I think it's quite beautiful though, and since my seedlings are safe indoors, I don't mind the ice storm. I've gotten my last bit of winter, so when she's gone, I'll be happy to welcome spring.

Memories of Summer, Hopes for Spring, and Snubbing Lady Winter

When I'm not hoping for snow and enjoying grey skies and hot cups of tea, I'm plotting what I'll plant in the spring and remembering happy summer days. I found myself yearning for some warm summer colors, so I sat down with my watercolors and had a bit of fun.

Photo: Me

Photo: Me

In general, summers where I live can be unbearably hot (not the 85 degree 'hot' that northerners imagine is unbearable; I mean 104 degrees fahrenheit or more), but there are perks to them; magnolia blossoms, star jasmine, honeysuckle, and gardenias scent the night air and cause me to feel intoxicated, to the point that I'm ready to vanish into the night in search of the fairies who must assuredly be responsible for the other-worldly vapors.

Photos: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Honeysuckle_.jpg , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Magnolia_flower_Duke_campus.jpg , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Trachelospermum_jasminoides1215878198.jpg

There's also the rivers and lakes that I do so enjoy. Even if I don't feel like swimming, there are so many wonderful things to see and find; dragonfly nymphs, pretty stones, moss...

Photo: Me

So until I get a winter wonderland for at least several days in a row, I'm going to snub Lady Winter and plot my garden and dream of summer nights, since I'm not to have my fair share of snow.