Thursday, April 22, 2010

Cloudy, With Intermittent Green

This is one of my favorite color combinations -- purple-grey clouds and and yellow-green foliage.
And it's only in Spring that the trees display this particular tender, light-filled shade of green.

The sky was extra dramatic yesterday, after Tuesday's rain, tempting me
to pull over and take pictures as I drove to Burnsville for my class.


Just as tempting was a mass of mayapples,
growing on the bank of the road up to our house. . . 

and the tree peony's first bloom, greeting me as I got out of the car.
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15 comments:

Martin said...

There must be something in the that colour combination Vicki. Such a contrast, particularly if the green is set against a dramatic, stormy sky.

Victoria said...

What beautiful pictures! In the second picture the leaves look like the finest quality Peridots. It's been snowing and hailing hard all day here, and the temperture is 26 degrees. April like it used to be...I like your kind of April better!

Almost forgot to say, I love the colors of that tree peony's first bloom!

Bernie said...

Just beautiful pictures Vicki, I don't think I have seen a peony blossom this early in the season, but then you must be well ahead of us.......:-) Hugs

Brian Miller said...

georgeous....going hiking this morning to go find the sunrise...

Pat in east TN said...

I don't know if it's because of our past winter being so horrid, IMO, but this spring seems especially awesome.

My peony is loaded with big blossoms this year that should open any day .. I'm looking forward to that.

Nice series of pictures, as usual.

Tess Kincaid said...

My peonies are up, but don't usually bloom until the end of May. The pale pink ones are my faves. I could smell the fresh mountain air from your pictures!

Tammy said...

Lovely pictures, and such a beautiful time of the year. I always think of Robert Frost's poem--'Nature's first green is gold...her hardest hue to hold..' this time of year. We need rain very badly here, the grass is starting to stop it's growth, and the dust is terrible. Seems strange how quickly it can dry out, after such a wet winter!
Tammy

Paul C said...

The mayapples look like a delightful native ground cover. You captured those vibrant spring colours so well. Our myrtle is blooming profusely right now.

Deanna said...

Hi Vicki. I popped over from AAA1Quality Blog (Tatitiara's). She was talking about a chicken tractor. Not sure I found the chicken tractor, but I love your photos. And you hosted a writing class! How special is that. Maybe you ought to consider doing an online class?

Enjoyed what I've seen of your blog!

Deanna
My loves, My life

tori said...

love the peony. the lilacs are on the verge here. can't wait. I will be putting out my chairs next to my bushes in anticipation today :)

jennyfreckles said...

I've just caught up on the posts I missed with being away. Some great photos here - I too love that beautiful spring-green - not so much of it here yet but it's coming, there's a haze. The camellias are out here - they're so pretty (until the frost gets them).

Vicki Lane said...

Hey, folks -- there's so much beautiful stuff at this time of year.

About the tree peony -- it's in a very protected spot and right next to a big rock that gives it some added heat -- I think that's why it's blooming early.

For Deanna, about the chicken tractor -- here's a link to the original post.

http://vickilanemysteries.blogspot.com/2008/07/chicken-tractor.html

Tipper said...

Wow those photos are amazing-you're right an outstanding color combo.

June said...

Mayapples!
Not only are they lush and green and (to me) a little prehistoric-looking, but if you pick them and lay them between rows of potatoes, the potato bugs will leave the plants alone.
File that in the Fun Facts To Know And Tell category. :-)

gayle said...

Pretty pictures!! I need to start taking more!