Spring into Summer Shadows Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

Here are a couple of shadows from this past week. 

At a shopping center that has had extensive changes since around 2020, one of the last shadow pictures I took this spring.

Yesterday,tree shadows in a local park. Summer began earlier that day.

Joining Lisa at This and That: A Blog, for her #ShadowshotSunday.  Why not come out of the shadows and join us?  All you need is a photo with shadows in it.  

Finally, to all fathers or people who have father roles in the United States, may you have a happy Father's Day.  I'm celebrating by linking to a 2023 post about Northern Cardinals and the roles of their males. 

I hope you have a happy Sunday, no matter where you live. 

Peaceful Monday #SkywatchFriday

A peaceful Monday afternoon in the Southern Tier of New York.

Nature seemed to be drawing a line. 

It was a beautiful day.  People were out and about in local parks, or attending Memorial Day parades or ceremonies.

So peaceful here. Elsewhere in the park, children were playing and there was a softball game in progress.

Now, our temperatures have dipped again and winds are blowing.  What will the next week bring?

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.  

Bunny Nest #WordlessWednesday

I find many interesting things when I take a walk.

One of these finds were a bunny nest sign I saw earlier this week near an office.

The sign reads "Bunny Nest (with arrow pointing down). Please be mindful when mowing". 

Rabbits build a shallow nest more like a depression in the ground.  I think the nest was a depression directly below the arrow.  It's hard to see in the photo.  I didn't want to get closer just in case the little ones were still in the nest.

As much as I don't appreciate rabbits in my yard, they were there first.  I'm happy someone cared enough to post this sign.  Would you have?

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday. 

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day May 2026

 On this last Garden Bloggers Bloom Day May post (because Carol at May Dreams Gardens, who has hosted this meme for many years, is retiring GBBD at the end of this year) I have many blooms to show you in my zone 6a garden in the Southern Tier of New York.

Our weather has been so up and down. This week we had days in the 50's F (12.7 C) and by Monday, it will be in the 90's F (32.2 C).  Then, by the end of next week, it will cool down again. This was after having a warmer (and wetter) April than we normally do.

I looked at my flower photos from May of 2025 and it appears we are slightly behind May of 2025, after all that up and down. 

The daffodils are fading away.

These are the last good ones.

The Japanese tree peony buds are getting ready to open.  

Euphorbia has been blooming for a while. 

A fuchsia tower, my Mother's Day gift.  Thank you, son! (Smart son; he brings me a different hanging basket each year).

Lily of the Valley.

One of the two pansy baskets I made up this year.

In the front, my iris are starting to bud up.

Now to the shady back yard. 

My trillium, This variety does not have flowers that open; they don't need to as they are pollinated by ants.

Primrose is almost finished.

I think this is brunneria Jack Frost.  I didn't capture many of the lovely small blue flowers because I was concentrating on the foliage.

I call this my lemon and lime brunneria.  I also have brunneria with "regular" green leaves.

In the back, it looks like my bleeding heart didn't survive the winter and my purple lilacs are on strike this year.  My white Lilacs are still blooming but are so high up I decided I had enough flowers already.  So I will end this here.

May is such a wonderful time.  Hoping that if you have a garden, it is doing well.  

Now, why not visit some of the other flower gardeners posting their links at Garden Bloggers Bloom Day and check out what's blooming for them?

A Spring Sky Variety Pack #SkywatchFriday

Today, some skies from the last couple of weeks, mixed in with views of spring. 

Baby redbud, several years old, in a local park.  Our redbuds are finishing up now.

Yesterday, sky framed by a building.

This past week, rain ahead.

From Sunday, sky and white lilac.

Finally, from Sunday, sky before a rainstorm.

So far, we've had one of the wettest springs since our area started to keep weather records 73 years ago. 

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.  

Crabapples and Tulips #ShadowshotSunday

Crabapple shadows from April 27.

Three small tulips all in a row in my front yard.  The name is long forgotten.  

Joining Lisa at This and That: A Blog, for her #ShadowshotSunday.
 

 

Grey Skies Coming Our Way #SkywatchFriday

 Whew!  It's May 1st.

Now I can rest. The Blogging from A to Z Challenge is over (except for my Reflections post next week) and I can get back to watching the skies.

But the skies lately, where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, haven't been too sunny and blue recently.  So, for May Day, I bring you these.

Yes, these are color pictures.

April 21. 

April 30. 

April 30. 

Contrast with this picture from April 27. 

After warmer than normal temperatures, we are going to return to cooler temperatures.  We may even have a frost next week (which would be a disaster for our local apple crop). 

I was going to show you some lovely spring pictures but maybe I'll get back to the beauty of spring next week.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.
 

Xanthic #AtoZChallenge

X, for me, is the hardest letter of the alphabet in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  I think all of us A to Zers struggle with this letter.  I've used this particular X word (xanthic) too many times but it is perfect for spring. There are so many yellow flowers associated with spring where I live: tulips.  Daffodils.  Forsythia.  And even more.

So, I'm revisiting the topic of Xanthic.  Or, in plainer language, Yellow, especially related to flowers.

The dictionary defines xanthic as yellow, or yellow-like.  That works for me, because I have lots of yellow flowers to show you from this spring.  Some are still blooming.

Euphorbia, my yard, April 26.  

Tulips, neighborhood, April 22.  I like photographing them from above to get the interior in the picture.

Barrenwort, my yard, April 14.

Yellow daffodil, my yard, April 22.

Fringed yellow tulip, my yard.  I only had one of these beauties come up this year.

Short tulip, variety long forgotten, my yard, April 23.  Now, isn't that Xciting?
 

X day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  Now off to see how others conquered X. 

Crabapple and Camden Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

Today, on this off day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I decided to feature some spring scenes.

Camden, South Carolina, April 2015.
 

Crabapple tree, Vestal, New York, April 23.

Another tree, also getting ready to bloom

Joining Lisa at This and That: A Blog, for her #ShadowshotSunday. 

Spring Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

We are back to cold weather and possible snow, but most of the last week was glorious (except for the almost late day thunderstorms and winds). But I took a couple of nice shadow shots yesterday and the day before yesterday while the good weather lasted.

Grape hyacinths. 

Tree shadow at a local park. 

Young redbud tree in bloom at a local park.  This was planted several years ago as part of an initiative  called Trees for Tribs.  You can see some of the other trees in the background.

Joining Lisa at This and That:  A Blog for her #ShadowshotSunday. 

Today is a day off for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  I resume tomorrow with my Q post and also participate in Music Moves Me. 

Purple Spring Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

For Easter and my day off from the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, some flower shadow pictures. These were taken yesterday - it is raining this morning.  First, my purple crocus.

A bee is barely visible in the flower on the left.

One of my clumps.

Another bee photo, barely visible on the left. 

My purple lenten rose is finally blooming.

Happy Easter, for those who celebrate.

Joining Lisa at This and That: A Blog, for her #ShadowshotSunday.

Tomorrow, music and an Excellent A to Z post.