Monday, April 2, 2012

The Hills are Alive with Springtime


"It boggles my mind that someone can see life breathed into a baby, watch the grass die and come to life again, see leaves fall and watch the re-birth of a tree, or gaze on any of the majestic splendor that is this earth and not be over-powered by the presence of an Almighty God."

~ Bill McCartney
University of Colorado Football Coach and
President of the Promise Keepers



The break in weather from winter to spring  is not so stark in Southern California as it is in the Rockies. Yet watching the hummingbirds make themselves at home in the red valerian that is colonizing wherever ground meets sun and a source of water; a sense of place stirs my soul as sure as snow is melting in the mountains.


In checking the bird guides to put a proper name to this green-backed beauty, it seems that some hummingbirds can only be identified by how their nests are composed.

Cymbidiums still blooming
In the springtime, a thousand shades of green clothe Diamond Bar's hillsides. What is au natural and what man has wrought is not obvious. But now that heaven will likely withhold greening rains, soon the wild beyond will show itself in shades of beige and brown.


Could this be the Easter Bunny or is it just one of his herd of helpers?

There was a time when I sought garden- perfection. Bunny pellets, at times more plentiful than blades of grass, were an irritation. Time in this garden has changed my perception. These are not pests, they are  God's helpers sent my way. Just short of being tame, the bunnies scatter their fresh manure.  Working for just a bit of food.

Maybe it isn't the bunnies that are tamed. Maybe it's me.

7 comments:

  1. Dear Lydia,
    Yes, it's we that love our gardens that have been tamed. Love reading your posts and, as always, your beautiful pictures.
    Lotsa Love and Hugs, Jeanie

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  2. LOL, LOL....Love that..."Maybe it isn't the Bunnies geing tamed, Maybe it's me...."
    I believe you are right Lydia....
    Such a sweet Bunny picture and I LOVE the Hummingbird photo's.....There is something so beautifully vulnerable about all these wonderful creatures....! And your Garden is so very Beautiful and Welcoming to all these dear dear animals and birds....!
    Spring Is Here!

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  3. Dear early birds- Thank you for verifying how special those photo are with comments.

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  4. Well, well... look at how nicely the new camera captures birds in action! Hills are certainly alive with springtime. The flatlands are, too ;-) I recently saw a very small violet-throated hummer hovering as I watered the container plants.

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  5. Once again, your hummingbird photos are stunning!
    They may be Anna's hummingbirds -- those are the most common ones here on the Central Coast.

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  6. Hi Nikki and Joan- I have been by your sites but have had some difficulty posting since I did a bit of reconfiguring on the old computer.
    Please don't think for a moment I have forgotten your wonderful blogs...

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  7. Lydia, you said that Cymbidiums are 'still blooming.' Does that mean that they are still blooming from Dec or have they just bloomed early for the regular May season?

    Judy

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