This is when the wildflowers start blooming and the weather is warm enough to go on long hikes or ride my horse, but the snakes haven't come out yet.
I love the new greens that appear on the sage, the rabbit brush, and the grasses. Some weeds. I don't like some of those but they have their uses too. Except for the goatheads. Those plants are nasty when they are green and even nastier when they dry out and die.
I love walking the hills and taking photos of the Yellow Bell, Wild Flax, Paintbrush, Phlox, Mariposa Lily, Blazing Star, Lupine, and Buttercups. I know spring is here when the tiny little heads of the buttercups start showing up on the hills. Usually on the south-facing ridges first.
 |
| phlox |
Then I'll start seeing the phlox, yellow bell, and mariposa lily. Later as it warms a little more the paintbrush, wild flax, and lupine show up. The last to make its appearance is the blazing star. And there aren't very many of them that I've seen around here. Only one spot and it is along the side of our county road.
Early summer means more time to ride my horse and ride with my daughter and grandchildren. They have just started the irrigation and I haven't begun to take off to book events too heavily yet. And the weather is still decent. Not too hot during the day so rides and walks can happen any time during the day.
Later in the summer when it gets hot, I get up early to walk or ride, before the day gets too hot.
 |
| Getting ready to ride. |
As a child, I liked to hike the hills around our farm to find the first buttercup in the spring. Where I lived, we had winter from late October till sometimes May so finding a buttercup meant the end of winter and the beginning of spring and riding my horse.
 |
| Buttercup |
Yes, I equate the sunny warmer weather with getting on a horse and riding. As teenager, there were many summer days, I'd get up in the morning, do my chores, pack a lunch, and take off up the mountain. Many times I didn't come back until I had to do my chores and make dinner. Or my brothers and I would go to what we called "the swimming hole" and swim in the river for several hours in the afternoon. The swimming hole was a large lazy curve in the Lostine River on our property. No adults. Just us cooling off and having a good time.
I would have to say, while I loved school and learning, I did yearn for the freedom of summer.
.jpg)
Blog / Website
/ Facebook / Paty's Posse
/ Goodreads / Pinterest / Bookbub
/ Instagram / TikTok / Authors Direct
5 comments:
Paty, is the first picture the goatheads. I've not heard of that plant before. I know it's spring when the violets bloom. I saw the ones in my front yard now that the snow has melted. I've not gone out back to see if the ones under my larch tree are blooming yet. I can see the green of their leaves now. It'll be another couple of months before I know what survived our very cold winter.
Judith, no, I didn't have a photo of the goatheads. Think of tiny green plants with spiked balls on the ends of the stems. Even when they are green and a bit supple the spikes still poke you. When they dry, they are nasty! They stick in the animals' feet.
I hope the lavenders survived.
Spring time where you live sounds amazing, Paty! I love wild flowers and they have begun to bloom in the valley. Not in the mountains where we live.
Thanks for sharing the pictures!
Loved your inviting descriptions of spring in Eastern Oregon! Makes me want to visit:-)
Hi Diana, It is the best time of year here. I think.
HI Sarah, Thank you! You are welcome any time!
Post a Comment