birds of a feather (1 of 7)

I’m traveling this week. I will be in NYC all week. I am scheduled to give a lecture and a workshop at the New York Botanical Garden on May 15.  The workshop is sold out, but there is still room for the talk and book signing at 11 Am in the Mertz Library at the Gardens. If you are in the area, please come!

Because it has been such a crazy busy two weeks, I have not had time to work ahead, so I have queued up a series of bird images from the past few years.  The migrations season is over, and the territory claiming and mate finding season is coming to a close. Our yard has been loud with birdsong this year. More than I remember. It’s been delightful. But the singing will soon end as everyone settles in to raise their nestlings.  First up in our series this week is cedar waxwing. One of the most striking of our seasonal migrants.

cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

if you’re going to do it, do it with flair!

I love the exuberance of this spent tulip. If your time is up, and you gotta go, go out in style! Why the hell not?

spent tulip flower

happy accidents

I was sent a bouquet of roses on my Pub Day by my podcast publicist Michelle Glogovac. I hired Michelle to set up a virtual Book Tour for me. She hit the ball out of the park (17 podcast interviews and counting!). She is clearly gifted at what she does. On top of that, Michelle is an extraordinary human. When I was in San Fransisco last month, I had dinner with her. So now I get to call her a friend as well. In all my busy-ness this past week, the vase of flowers didn’t get quite the attention they needed. So, half of them have dried. But I’m not sad about it at all…look at this beauty? I now I get to keep it around even longer. Happy accidents are my jam.

dried pink rose

mutual affection

Our apple trees blossomed about a week ago. The busiest week I have had in the past twenty years. I thought I might miss my chance to photograph them this year. And if we had had any rain or wind I would have. But, alas, they waited for me, the darlings. By tomorrow or the next day these blossoms will be a beautiful carpet of pink covering almost every sidewalk in Minneapolis. I’m glad you waited for me apple blossoms! I do love you so.

crabapple blossoms in May

scratch and sniff

After its typical arrival in fits and starts, spring here in the North is finally filling my senses in all the familiar ways. Crabapple blossoms are lighting the trees on fire, I just caught my first cloud of lilac scent on my walk today, and red winged blackbirds, mallards, geese, and yellowthroats are calling from the cattails. Next up: Sorrel omelet for dinner! It’s May in Minnesota.

lilac flowers (Syringa)