The other day I made a quick stop at a local trail to see if I could find the beginnings of pink lady slipper or blue-bead lily greens. I know where they grow in this particular area but in the past I have only spotted them after they are in flower. Since learning more about wildflowers is one of my current nature goals, I want to try to track their growth from the first shoot all the way to flower and beyond.
I did not find the greens I was looking for but I found things I did not set out to find.
I spotted the first sign of the false lily-of-the-valley flower.
Then while practically laying on the ground to get a picture of those i saw a little growth coming from a cutting. I am still in need of time to investigate this one but the colors and shape were fascinating.
As I walked I found myself looking down, in search of those particular greens I set out to find, but instead found a whole host of other growth and development; sure signs of spring I may have missed otherwise.
As I was crawling around the woods I thought of a quote I shared recently on Instagram:
“I never go out knowing what I am going to find. The interest is in finding what I didn’t know I was going to find.”
~ Henry David Thoreau
Sometimes it is not about finding what you are looking for, but just finding what you find!
~ Dawn
I love this time of year when the earthy ground looks like a new world emerging! It’s so fun and fantastic in all its diversity and wonder. It’s amazing what you can find when you take a moment to lay on your belly and get a plant’s eye view of everything! Great photographs! You have me wondering what that new plant is…and I always love seeing the fiddleheads emerge. So fun!
Yes, Tam! It is such a good view to take in. I love how it makes the littlest things come into view.
I will let you know when I find out about that cool little new bud.
Thanks for reading! xx
Yes! That’s what I find so fun and walks in the woods, along a river, or at the beach always give me a chance to use my camera ;-). Great quote!
Indeed! It seems there is always somethings new to discover!
I have seen many Thoreau quotes but that one was new to me. I love it too!
Thanks for stopping by, Amy!
Such a great quote and what beautiful pictures Dawn. We have a stand of Lily-of-the-Valley in our backyard (might need to put a fence around it with my little man and his need to ‘taste’ everything) but they are just about ready to bloom as well. It,s nice to see Spring in your neck of the woods after all that snow. 🙂
Truly, Yanic!
We are doing some yard planning and a patch of Lily-of-the-Valley is on the list. I love them!
Thanks for stopping by!
You have this amazing eye for the small things in this world. Makinging them look so much bigger and grander than they are!
Thanks so much, KC!
Funny because after this little walk I was thinking I might need to make up some cute patches to reinforce the knees of my pants from now on! I am always down on the ground investigating something tiny!
beautiful!
Thank you, Amanda!