Hello Spring, Hello Turning Moss

Happy Spring! While it may have been snowing most of the day here in Chicago and we may have had blizzards over the weekend, it is evident that spring has indeed arrived. Early blossoms have been sprouting up in the yard and the trees out front are going to bloom any day now. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s time to say goodbye to the dark months of winter and hello to the vibrant start of spring. What a perfect time to turn on to a new path and a set new projects into motion, this marks the start of Turning Moss!

As we say hello and meet for the first time, let’s also welcome some of the first blooms to emerge this spring. The Golden Crocus (Crocus chrysanthus) seems to always be the first to appear, generally sometime in early to mid march, these beauties are the first to let us know that spring is near. After the long winter months, it amazing to see these bright yellow flowers pop into the mix.

The Purple Crocus is not far behind, it is most certainly the most vibrant color in sight.

It’s not long before more varieties spring up.  The Glory Of The Snow (Chionodoxa) is next, these little flowers stick around for quite a long time, the images were caught just before they opened up. We have two varieties in the yard, mostly white with light blue stripes as well as a boldly purple-blue version. It seem as they are around for about a month or so. These tiny little flowers withstand the temperamental conditions of the early midwest spring – this year they were covered in snow several times, but that didn’t stop them thriving.

And then there are the Daffodils! This variety, Narcissus ‘Barrett Browning’, generally arrives in the beginning of April. They are gorgeous, delicately white with a bold pop of deep orange in center. These bulbs are planted in the sunniest spot in the yard, along the same fence lives another variety, the Narcissus ‘Quail’, pure bright yellow daffodils.

I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to be surrounded by the signs of spring, the greens are coming back to life my friends! Thanks for stopping by Turning Moss, I look forward to sharing more about my nature inspired adventures. I love to grow plants, work with my hands, and photo document the beauty that inspires me. My favorite thing in the world is to be lost in nature, to marvel in all the details of the life springing up around, I am drawn to the mosses lining the trail, curious about each seed pod and bloom I encounter, I could search for the perfect stone or scan the beach for shells all day long and then do it again tomorrow. Dreams. Taking time the to have a closer look at these treasures is my ideal form of entertainment… it’s therapeutic… it’s where I find my happy place. I’m glad you’re here!