Disclaimer: These photos don't do the sight justice. To walk through a meadow full of thousands of blooming wild iris, blue-eyed grass and ranunculus is to render one speechless and the camera practically useless. Still, I tried. I couldn't help myself.
This is our cow meadow - well, not OUR cow meadow cause we don't have any cows - but the meadow that has the cows that we frequently take walks in. Because it is beautiful year 'round. And right now it is in full spring glory with the flowers. And ticks, so come prepared.
These are what the Blue Flags look like close-up. Not particularly bright or showy but very lovely flowers that multiplied by the thousands give me a new aapreciation for the extravagance of spring. Like our wisteria, these don't flower just enough to get the job done, no - these flower to excess. It is like a shopping spree without spending money, gorging without eating, full sensory overload without taking a drug. Get outside and see what wondrous things are going on out there.
It's a common plant in the west, not some exotic find, but a good lesson that being common isn't synonomous with being boring. Far from it.
The day I took these photos the weather was just turning from glorious and warm to windy and cold again and I was going to leave this place and hide away in my studio for the rest of the day. So I had to get the dogs out.
She's so darn photogenic, isn't she? Without consciousness, even.
The cows were out too, with their calves, so we had to steer clear around them. Our dogs have gotten good with cows but sometimes the calves try to engage them in play and I don't even know where that might lead so I just keep the dogs away from the cattle. It is bad enough they like to eat calf poo.
I got down to change perspective and this was to plague me for the rest of the day as I felt imaginary ticks crawling on me all afternoon. It is tick season and the dogs have had their drops but the only thing a foolish human can do after she's practically sent out invitations is carefully inspect. And I've been diligently inspecting.
I love this photo - because that is what she does so well. She's a licker... she likes to try to lick the lotion off my legs, she likes to spontaneously lay a big fat lick on ya while you drive, she LOVES to lick. Drives us crazy.
Ok, so you get the picture. If you live anywhere in the west where there might be a dry meadow, or open woodland - do yourself a favor and plan a little visit. You too might be greeted with a sight that sends you running for your camera, cursing yourself for never taking a proper photography class, wishing you had just one other lens...
Oh yes, there were other flowers. Overshadowed maybe, but there for the finding. Blue-eyed grass is one of my all time top ten flowers in the Sierra. So little, so vivid blue.
So easy to overlook. These flowers are just the first indication that the door is opening... with all the snow and all the water we'll have in the Sierra this year I think flowers might go through August. And it might be August before we can get into the high country.
One last image for today... I had some fun with overlays and frames while editing these.
Now. Got get outside!
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| Source: USDA Plants Profile |
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