Violet Intensity
All these violets are gone now.
Rained on flowers
We’ve had plenty of rain, cloudy skies, and severe weather watches.
Glorious Franklin
On scarce days the sun lights Franklin.
Early on
Occasional violets quickly became . . .
Well look at this
Profusions.
Everyday purple
I love the bursting messiness of the forest floor. I’m partial to violets!
Dandy Lion
Out in the forest our one dandelion is now also gone.
Beginning of spiderwort takeover
The first spiderwort in town, a few weeks back. At present the yard takeover is ongoing, which is the way I like things. I prefer the wildflowers to the cultivars.
Where’d the sky go?
Out where we live, the crabapple tree jammed the sky with blooms this year.
Here we come!
They pop out anywhere amidst last year’s dry leaves, they don’t care!
All floaty and springy
Scheming colors make any sort of combo, old or new!
Green scheme
The greens were on their way, even a few weeks ago.
Mr. Cardinal
I finally got his picture! Mrs. Cardinal wasn’t around, at least not that I could see. I’ll bet she’s sitting on eggs somewhere.
Dogwood Emergence
Dogwoods joined the party, too.
Tall dogwood trees decorate the sky
Violets, dandelions, and crabapple flowers are all gone now. Leaves came back and suddenly, sprong! Green everywhere.
Sleepy Franklin
Franklin’s having a snooze! He’ll feel nice and refreshed later while he’s getting into everything.
Wisteria was slower this year, those pictures are still in the camera. They won’t be quite like past wisteria:
Wowza wild wisteria, 2015
Again I’m sorry to have not gotten around to comment on other blogs as much as I’d like to. I haven’t been too well. There have been so many severe weather watches! They drain my time and energy because I have to make preparations, shut down the computer due to electrical storms, keep up with changing weather conditions at every moment, and try to alert others through social media. Spring is beautiful but . . . I feel rained on.
Anyways, Happy Earth Day! Coming up, more Franklin and spring; now with iris, the current wave of wisteria, and oh my, all that green!
I live near a creek in a forest, in close observation and awe of the wildlife outside, as well as the domestic animals of the household. I'm writer Leah T. Alford. I was "catwoods" on this site Catwoods Porch Party, Itchmo Forums for Cats and Dogs, and a few other sites that may or may not exist now. I have now published a book, and the publisher wanted it called Catwoods. I never expected the book title to be the same as my username, so for now I've changed the username to Leah. For more info, click the "About" button above.
Catwoods Porch Party 
Your photos are gorgeous
Thank you so much, Luisa!
The photos are lovely, Leah! And I love the cardinal. They don’t come this far west, so I haven’t seen one since New England. Franklin is as handsome as always.
Franklin and I thank you, Lavinia, we are glad you enjoyed the pictures! I do like having the cardinals although there are some western birds I’d like to see, too.
Great pic of the cardinals, violets and of course Franklin!
Franklin and I thank you, MNL!
Charlee: “Such pretty pictures! We love the flowers!”
Chaplin: “But our favorite picture is the bird.”
Charlee: “Yes, we are definitely partial to birds!”
LOL, thanks y’all, and I understand about the bird! Our Franklin likes that picture, too.
Lovely, lovely, lovely photos!
Such a pretty and relaxing read.
Paz
Pazlo, thank you so much! I’m happy you enjoyed the post.
Those are some beautiful photos. I really like Mr. Cardinal. š
Thanks Charles, I’m happy you like the pictures! I was glad to get the cardinal too, since the dense vegetation means I rarely get a good view of any bird.
I know birds are not easy to photograph.
I know! I’m so in awe when I see some of the really great pictures of birds going around.
Leah, this post is a poem! The photos are beautiful (that cardinal ā and of course Franklin! ā are wunderbar!). And as I say, the words accompanying the photos make for one poetic post ā love it! Hope youāre staying safe this spring. Iāve seen those wild storms passing through your way; hopefully, theyāll be over soon. We had snow a week ago in Michigan ā uggh, Iām so over snow. Your photos reminded me of what āspringā means š Deb
Deb, Franklin and thank you for such kind words! I’m happy if I can convey spring, to anyone who wants or needs it. There’s yet spring coming, I think, though we’re well into the green now. Bummer about all that snow, it’s pretty but also darned inconvenient at times! And I’m so hoping the storms are winding down, been there, (anniversary coming up on the 27th), never want to see one again . . . All the best to you and yours, Leah
Iām lovinā experiencing spring vicariously through your words & photos, Leah! Hugs to Franklin! š
Hugs delivered to Franklin on your behalf, Deb! Please hug your kitties and Chuck the dog for me! Glad to oblige about spring when I can. I went out today and our wisteria’s being engulfed by the green, so I think our future spring features will be iris and waves of critters!
Sounds luveryly to me ā I even just love the word āwisteria.ā š Hugs to Chuck and our fur babies ā thank you!
I’m fond of the word “wisteria” too, it’s just a delicious name!
Leah, these photos are amazing! Nature is my favorite thing to just sit & admire and you have warmed my heart with such natural beauty! ā„ The wisteria is such an amazing vine…. when it takes over here, I’m always blown away at the color. I know it chokes out the health of some trees but my goodness it is special to see in bloom.
As always, I adore seeing that cutie pie Franklin too! Thanks for brightening my day. I am praying that you & yours stay safe in the wacky weather. It has been wild here too but not nearly as bad as so many places have gotten. Hoping you are getting some rest & are feeling much better REAL soon. Sending love & hugs your way…
Holly, thanks for your kind words, I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures! I really like the wisteria too, sight and scent, while at the same time hoping it doesn’t have a negative effect on the trees. Franklin also thanks you for saying he’s cute! The news just said we’ve had a record number of EF0 and EF1 tornadoes this year, not right where I live, but the winds have been scary on those days/nights. Been there, don’t want to be in another! Thanks for the good wishes, love and hugs to you also!
I love that you include your cat pixies.
š± š š
Thanks JoAnn, and thanks for following. I started out mainly with cat topics but then branched out, so to speak.
Beautiful photos, and your dandelion may be gone but his seeds flew over here and I have 837 growing in my lawn now. The neighbours are not amused. Nice weather for a cat to be outside–here as well. The pollen has me sneezing my head off–I love April! Afternoons are good for cat naps, aren’t they Franklin? Think I’ll have one later as well . . . . Enjoy Spring Leah!
Thanks Greg, glad you liked the pictures! Ahahahaha about the dandelions! Know what you mean about the neighbors, I wish more people appreciated dandelions, they are good for the bees who keep food crops pollinated. You have my sympathy about the allergies, we’ll soon be seeing layers of yellow green dust everywhere. Happy Spring!
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Dear Leah, what a beautiful post, I can see how beautiful Spring there too… Lovely Franklin, Thank you for all these photographs, I loved them all. Happy Spring, Love, nia
Nia, thank you so much, I’m happy you liked the pictures and happy if I can convey at little bit of a sense of spring. Warmest wishes always for a wonderful Springtime for you also, with love, from Leah
You are welcome dear Leah, have a nice new week, Love, nia
Well, youāve made my evening with these gorgeous photos! Violets are a favorite and also spiderwort. When I moved to Louisiana many years ago I brought some spiderwort from my motherās yard but it died out, somehow. The native spiderwort here is pink. I prefer the blue. Did you know itās also called blue-eyed grass?
So glad to see you posting!
Charlotte I’m happy you like the pictures! I didn’t know about the pink spiderwort, that’s really interesting! Although I think that I also prefer the blue. And I didn’t know about the blue-eyed grass name, which is perfect! I have heard that the spiderwort was planted by one couple a long time ago and since then it has taken over the whole town. Have to check with the hubs later to see if he recalls the details.
Autumn here, so I feel rained on too! How bright your violets look! I have hundreds of little self-seeding violets around my place in spring, but they’re a much paler shade – unless I can photograph them in the right light. And I love Mr Cardinal in his best bright red.
These wild violets really flourished this year with no help from us. I did boost the color a little bit in photo editing, but they’re basically deep purple. Interesting that you have some that are lighter in color! The flowers of another wild variety here are white with purple centers. I always enjoy seeing the cardinals!
Once the violets get established there seems to be no stopping them.
So true! And I love it when flowers don’t need maintenance since I’m such a slacker when it comes to gardening!
Beautiful words and images Leah. I especially loved the crabapple photos. I planted two last month but they’re only a couple feet tall. Hope I get to see them bloom someday. Thank you for sharing your bit of paradise with us. Franklin seems to be enjoying his Spring.
Thanks so much Cathy, I’m happy you liked the the post! There was a crabapple tree in Bill’s grandmother’s yard and there were daughter trees so the whole family got them. Ours had several too and they bloomed when not very tall so maybe yours will bloom soon! This one was in fact a daughter that grew large and bloomed wildly this year. Franklin’s a fun-loving young kitty indeed!
lovely photos,and a gorgeous painting. Around here it’s autumn moving fast into winter
Thanks Maureen, Franklin and I are glad you liked the pictures! I actually have more fun taking pictures in autumn than any other season.
What vibrant colors as Spring invades your neck of the woods in earnest. A lovely Earth Day post, Leah!
Thank you Cate, I’m happy you liked it!
Beautiful photos and Franklin is gorgeous! I’m very happy that spring has finally arrived.
Franklin and I thank you, Lesley. Spring is usually earlier for us than in other regions but this year it was extra early, and long-lasting.
I love these photos. I took photos of our violet plants last week. Or crabapple tree blossoms are not out yet. Thanks for sharing.
I’m happy you like the pictures, thank you so much! There’s something about violets … I don’t know why our crabapple bloomed so early this year. And the wisteria seems to have come really late compared to other vines around town.
Beautiful photos and colors as always, Leah. Franklin certainly has a lovely, colorful environment!
t
Thank you Lauren, I’m happy you liked the photos. Franklin would like to paw and examine every square inch of his surroundings!