Pay Attention

Jim's Wisteria- just beautiful
Jim’s Wisteria- just beautiful

I am going to try to pay attention to the spring. I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees. I am going to close my eyes and listen. Anne Lamott

Anne is so right. Have you taken a look outside lately? I have. In the morning, I open the windows to let fresh air in. The birds are chirping their beautiful songs. There’s a chill in the air and sometimes there is mist. Other mornings, the sun is bright from the moment it rises.

My yard is full of blooming things. Jim’s wisteria has been filled with fragrant purple flowers for almost a week. The lavender and peppermint plants are already wonderfully green. My irises and peonies have buds on them. Light purple phlox is in full bloom.

My lilac bushes are on their way out; they were beautiful this year. White and light purple, I picked small bunches and placed them in old milk bottles in the center of my kitchen table.

Let us remember to stop and smell. To look and see what is around us. I can get so busy, caught up in daily living and I can forget. Forget to take note of what is really going on around me and the little things that make this world so wonderful.

The birds have me suffciently intrigued enough that I may just find a bird song CD to listen to in the car. Why? I’d love to know which bird is singing what. Maybe I’ll sing along with them.

Not sure what this is! Any idea? Isn't it beautiful?
Not sure what this is! Any idea? Isn’t it beautiful?
Jim's Rhododendron- saved from a job site where it was almost thrown away.
Jim’s Rhododendron- saved from a job site where it was almost thrown away.

 

What’s blooming in your yard, in your neck of the woods? I’d love to know.

xo Joanne

It's nice to share. Thank you.

16 Replies to “Pay Attention”

  1. Every evening around 6 P.M., I go out and set on my swing. I love watching the different birds that come to the bird feeders, the hummingbirds at the trumpet vines, and my neighbors rooster and hens as they go through the yard picking bugs. Everything is so green and all the flowers are in bloom. Love the beautiful nature God made for us to enjoy.

  2. A lovely reminder, Joanne. Today while I was walking to my car, I realized the sun was out…that the sky was blue and the sun was shining! We haven’t seen the sun in, well, we don’t know when. So I’m going to soak up its delight while I can. The lilies I planted last year have just bloomed. They are later than other lilies, but I don’t mind.

    I hope your day is filled with pretty bird songs and sunny thoughts,
    Marianne xox

    1. I’ve already heard lots of birdsong today! So glad the sun is shining in your neck of the woods.
      How lovely that your lillies are blooming as well. I love lillies.
      xo Joanne

  3. Thank you for this reminder to slow down…and literally smell the roses, and listen to the birds…:-)

    Things are just beginning to bloom. I think we are in a different zone…I say this a lot about central Vermont! It’s definitely it’s own zone! But trillium, my favorite, is blooming in the forests and it gives me hope!!!

  4. I’m paying attention to your wonderful spring pictures, Joanne, especially the wisteria. Last weekend we had very unusual May weather ~ cold, rain, hail, and even snow ~ and my wisteria is still in slump and hide mode.
    I love your pictures.

    1. We just had a cold spell for a couple of days. It actually went down into the 40’s. The wisteria survived it, thankfully. I hope yours comes out soon. 🙂
      Blessings for a wonderful weekend,
      Joanne

  5. I followed your comment on Marylin Warner’s website to your own. The idea of seeing ordinary things through an extraordinary lens intrigues me too, Joanne.

    You take wicked photos of beautiful blooms. Right now my peace lily is beginning to blossom again on the porch – the same with the geraniums. The impatiens in patio shade are in their glory too. As for myself, I’m a Pennsylvania transplant to Florida.

    1. Hi Marian! It is so nice to meet you!
      I have to credit my daughter for the beautiful blooms. She is really the person who plants lots of things for me. Michelene is an avid gardener and we both love to take nature photos.
      Blessings to you, Joanne

  6. I can hear you twittering! 🙂 And I learned something new. By paying attention to the comments I discovered that what I call Aquilegia or Granny’s Bonnet is a Columbine.

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