Sunday Walk: The Mother Lode!, Tulips, Owl Trees, & Other Distractions

What I love best about our Sunday walks is the sense of adventure and discovery.

You just never know what you will find around the next bend, even in the same old familiar neighborhood.

I bring the camera to capture these moments of wonder, and also because somehow taking a picture legitimizes the experience.

With photo evidence, we feel like real explorers!

(Rather than just a few people out for a walk.)

We discuss what would be worth a photograph.

And some things, we just remember with a smile.

 

So, let's get started, shall we?

 

As it turns out, our last walk was really just a prelude to the dandelion hunting experience.

The kids were walking along, enjoying the sites and the warm day, casually picking a dandelion here and there.

Then we came up over a rise and suddenly, there it was:

 

The Mother Lode!

This is just a sprinkling of the amazing crop of dandelions being grown on this property.

My oldest said, "I wish we could live in this house. LOOK at all these dandelions!!"

I limited them to what they could reach from the sidewalk.

It was still much more than they could carry.

 

[Dandelions are some of the few flowers from our yard that they can pick without asking. It would have taken them days to make full use of this lawn. Flower-picking heaven, in other words.]

Full hands, full pockets.

Big smiles.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, I was gazing dreamily at all the gorgeous tulips blooming right now.

 

Like these.

And these.

 

[Always room for one or two more.] 

 

A little further up the street, we came across:

 

(The Famous) Owl Tree

On one of my early morning walks, I followed the sound of an owl hooting to this very spot. I told the kids about it several times, and we had driven by the tree, but never walked by it.

No owls were spotted or heard on our walk, but after all, it was mid-day.

 

 

 I have decided that tulips are my reward for living in a colder climate.

 

 Nice use of red and orange.

Thank you for not including clashy pink in the mix.

 

 Just lovely.

 

Moving on now to "interesting."

 

Fritillaria, 'Crown Imperials', or "Stink Lilies"

I recently learned that these unusual-looking flowers put off a skunk-like odor.

Of course, we had to test it out, up close.

Neither of them could smell it.

Just downwind, I caught a hint of it.

Good job putting them at the end of the driveway!

 

In addition to picking and holding bunches of dandelions, we visited an old cemetery (again), discovered a hidden pathway, and almost got blown away by the wind. 

 

Here is definitive proof that you can never have too many spring bulbs planted.

It's just not possible.

You need more spring bulbs.

Yes you.

Trust me on this.

Who needs lawn anyway, when you can have daffodils?

[The muscari are just a bonus.]

 

* * * * *

 

The dandelions filled up 1 medium-sized vase, 1 small vase, 1 small cup, plus 1 even smaller cup.

(Varying stem lengths, you see.)

In case you were wondering... 

dandelion vase life is approximately 10 minutes.

Particularly if they have been carried none-too-gently over hill and dale, or crammed into a coat pocket for the past hour.

 

Nevertheless, this walk was a success.

For all the right reasons.