April is here! That means we might just get a bit of rain in Calgary…and maybe some cherry blossoms (if they don’t freeze off). And tulips (if the rabbits and deer don’t eat them first). Clearly, a month of “if’s”….
Typical spring. 😉
My favourite furry flower, Pulsatilla patens – Nose Hill, Calgary, 28 March 2016
I spent the month of March doing more researching and querying than actual writing, and while I was busy with that, my e-mails collectively undertook a massive construction project that is now approaching monument status…we’re talking the Egyptian pyramids or something of that ilk. So I maybe need to do something about that this upcoming week. Ahem.
And I’ve been spring cleaning and organizing! I mean, moving files and piles around. No, seriously, I’m actually making a tiny dent, even though it might be NEXT spring when I see truly decent results. But just the small amount I’ve done so far is refreshing.
Speaking of files, here are a few interesting things I came across this past month:
- A snowy owl speculates on landing a coveted modelling gig – yep, you read that right. Go here. You’ll love the rest of Lyle Krahn’s blog, too – nothing better than fantastic wildlife photos combined with a wonderful sense of humour!
- A profile of the life and work of Felicitas Svejda, the geneticist responsible for the breeding of the hardy Explorer roses. Canadians who grow roses owe much to her dedication and passion for plants that could survive our crazy winters and short growing season.
- Photographer Beth Moon’s portraits of the world’s most ancient trees are absolutely incredible. Head over to the gallery and enjoy.
- Take a look at some samples from Saxon Holt’s fledgling Photo Florilegium project.
I’ve been posting some items elsewhere:
- Potato Pancakes recipe – Blooms and Spoons, Grit.com
- Parsley Soup recipe – Blooms and Spoons, Grit.com
- Over at The Door is Ajar, mentions of a few books I’ve been reading:
- The Artist in the Office (how to keep those creative juices flowing while you slog away at your day job!)
- The Carbon Diaries 2015 (a dark, smart teen dystopian novel)
- In the House Upon the Dirt Between the Lake and the Woods (a seriously disturbing fable about the meaning of family)
Finally, this was a really fun book to read for review – I started out randomly flipping through the pages but then had to chow down on it cover-to-cover. Now, ask me something….
Mother Earth News Almanac: A Guide Through the Seasons (2016, Voyageur Press, Minneapolis)
Whether you’re a modern homesteader or an urban DIY-er, you’ll find a useful tip or hundreds in the Mother Earth News Almanac (2016). Want to know something about natural pest control? How to build a stove out of an aluminium can? Need recipes for popcorn balls or cherry preserves or tips on how to sour cream or sprout seeds for eating? What about sinking fence posts or cobbling together a working substitute for a broken cotter pin? Whether it’s raising livestock (or cats), making crafts, foraging for wild foods, or constructing, you name the topic – you’ll probably find something new and interesting about it in this book. The entries are concise and informative, divided into categories based upon the seasons of the year, and the book is illustrated throughout with black ink line drawings, diagrams, and tables. Fascinating and practical lifestyle hacks for everyone!
(* Many thanks to Voyageur Press for providing a copy of this title for review. I did not receive any compensation for my opinion, which is my own).
What are you most looking forward to this month?
Flowery Prose 
I’m sure .After all there rest a lot of blossems and flowers.
Yes, we’re starting to get a few blooms here! The weather has been so mild this spring, everything seems quite early.
Those tree images are amazing. Have a great weekend Sheryl!
Incredible photography and fascinating subjects – I love that gallery!
That furry little flower is gorgeous and endearing at the same time.
They always make me smile because they have a “cuteness” factor about them and yet they tough out our most extreme weather. Amazing plants.
The photographic exhibition will absorb us since yesterday’s Private View
Fun post, Sheryl, and great links! The tree photos are so moving and I love the post about the snowy owl!
That snowy owl post was so cute, I got such a laugh from it. Glad you enjoyed the links!
A great post, I’ve followed some of the links. Thanks. 🙂
p.s. Love the furry flower!
Thanks so much!
It’s always a joy to find those little furry crocuses in the spring, they just make me smile.
Lots of interesting suggestions! Thanks so much.
You’re very welcome!
Sounds like the kind of book I’d like! Your shot of the Pulsatilla is fabulous!
Thank you very much!
The book is really fun and interesting – it’s kind of hard to put down, actually, you just want to read tip after tip.
I enjoy reading Mother Earth News. Have many copies of it here. Spring cleaning going on everywhere.
I feel like I will never finish “spring” cleaning…it’s definitely going to go on into summer, that’s for sure! 😉
My magnolia tree has been nipped by the unusual cold spell we are having. I’m afraid so many of the buds will not open 😦 I seem to recall that there was a magazine called Mother Earth News and came out monthly or bi-monthly???
Oh that’s such a shame about your magnolia – I hope the freezing temperatures didn’t get all the buds! Magnolias are spectacular – I wish we could grow them here!
The magazine Mother Earth News is still in publication, I think it’s a monthly, if I remember correctly. This book is sort of a compilation of many of the tips and short articles they’ve published over a long history – the original edition of the book was actually published in the 1970’s. This is an updated version of that popular volume.
I bet the book is full of good info – I just might have to add it to my collection. We are expecting 3-4 inches of snow tonight – unbelievable! I’m afraid this will be a bad year for my magnolia tree 😦
Oh, that’s really unfortunate! I hope you didn’t get quite as much snow as you were expecting (or even better, none at all).