Springtime Means…Taxes!

Yes, taxes. That’s the one thing I dislike about this time of year. Beautiful flowers are coming out everywhere, the weather is getting nice, and dang-it all if we don’t have to get all mired up in taxes when we should be out hiking or something. Well, it’ll all be over soon – either filed or extended, one or the other!

Speaking of spring, today was more like summer here in Seattle. It was warm, with highs near 70°F – certainly not a record, but this is the time of year when we in the Pacific Northwest start to wonder if summer will ever return, so it was a nice surprise.

And on that note, I believe more springtime images are in order!

This collection of images comes from around the world, beginning with “Spring Moon” from my own front yard here in Issaquah. Right about the time my sinuses are beginning to let me breath again after an early onslaught of tree pollen, the trees in my driveway pop with beautiful red buds, which I think look stunning against a clear blue sky. The half-moon completes the view.

The moon rises between two trees with bright red buds on a clear spring morning, in Issaquah, Washintgon.

Next let’s head to Hawaii, where the curious Uluhe ferns are probably already appearing in Volcanoes National Park. This little guy looks bigger than he is – the coil is only about the size of a quarter. I love the little red hairs on the fronds – they look just like saffron threads to me!

The Uluhe (false staghorn) fern can be found all over the east (wetter) side of the Big Island, but the most spectacular Uluhe ferns are found in Volcanoes National Park, Hawai’i.

OK, stay with me, now! We’re heading to the south of France, where lavender and poppies are king. It’s still a bit early for these to be blooming, but it won’t be long now. Might be a good time to book a flight and check out the lavender fields personally!

Poppies and lavender are often seen together at the same time in mid-June in the Valensole Plain, if the spring weather is warm enough, in Provence, France.

Speaking of lavender, two excellent places to find it are the south of France, as I said, and also here in Washington State. Here’s a nice patch from the Valensole, France area.

Summer in Provence means fields filled with the signs and scents of lavender, in Valensole, France.

We’ll talk more about the Washington lavender when it’s time for the local festival in July.

I’ll close with this pretty little ground cover from Death Valley National Park. These are about the size of a dime if I remember correctly. I don’t know about you, but that looks like a little face in the middle of that left one.

This tiny annual loves flat clay and sandy soils. In favorable years the plants spread enough to form broad, colorful mats. In dry years a plant may bear but a single flower.

Or maybe I’m just delirious from doing taxes.

Well, I’m off on another adventure soon. Stay tuned for more details. And whatever you do, get out there and enjoy the wildflowers – they’re everywhere, if you just look!