Season journal: wild flowers

Three days ago I spied the first bloodroot blooms. They are thick in the ditches now.

A surprise to see flowers without their greens.

Two days ago the pussytoes popped up.

Pussytoes carpet lawns with their tiny soft white blooms.

All the trees burst forth in flowers yesterday.

Both leaves and turtles made their appearance today. Spring tumbles over itself, rushing to profit from the first week without below freezing temperatures.

This curious beetle caught my attention. My references tell me it is a carrion beetle. Given the number of road sacrifices that come with springtime, it’s surprising I haven’t seen one before.

We dug up dandelions finally and Michael made a fine pilaf with their centers. They remind me of artichoke hearts. Leaves will make a salad tomorrow. They are best before they blossom out, when they turn bitter. We will gather the flowers for dandelion wine.

We are eagerly awaiting our next chance to see this wee wild one.