Blooming Fun!

Plants are slowly but surely starting to show their colours in my backyard.  I like checking up on things;  there's something new popping up everytime I walk around the lawn.

Cushion Spurge -- gorgeous this year!

Pulmonaria

People have different names for this; my sister calls it Joseph's Coat.

Ferns -- a favourite of mine!  I love the woodland look.

Perennial Anemone -- another favourite.

I shall be going now.  There's digging to be done and lawn to be mowed!

Human Rights for Children

This slideshow showcases drawings of  some of the 'Human Rights for Children' by my students.  The assignment was part of a lesson from the Global Trek Social Studies program.

Buffleheads -- Male and female pair

These are one of the most beautiful ducks around.  They turn heads for a second glance.  The male has the white markings almost like a crest on its' head.

This picture was taken with my humble camera and I like it.  :)

Click on the picture for a better view.

Nanking Cherry Blooms

This is what I found in the orchard tonight.  The apple tree buds aren't open yet,  but they seem to be doing well this year.  Saskatoons will be bursting into bloom one of these days.   I hope I don't miss them.

Moss Terrariums

This years' mother's day project was early.  I couldn't resist.  It was fun to get these little (spice-rack) bottles together.  I'm glad I was early too.  We have been working on getting the soil to dry.  The initial watering was too much, now a cloud forms in the bottle.  There is less condensation in the bottles every day now.

The instruction for the moss garden can be found here.

We used different layers of soil and sand, but the watering changed the colours.  So hopefully, once they are dried enough, the different layers will be visible again.  They were quite pretty.

The bottles will be decorated to coordinate with the students' cards and maybe we will  make a gift baggie for them.

Now if the moms like them as much as the kids, they will be a hit!

Scrapping

A page I did for an on-line challenge at Fiskateers. 

Plain and simple -- that's all the photo needed.  

 I don't do a lot of scrapping.  Not sure why -- probably too time-consuming.  

The last few weeks have been really busy for me.  I guess that's the spring story.  I like to spend time outdoors, so besides schoolwork, there is just not enough time in the day.

My flower gardens are becoming an eye-sore for me.  I need to get out and do some digging.  With the rain we've had and is still coming down, it seems like I'm free for another week-end.

Manitoba Maple in bloom -- this is the children's tree; perfect for climbing.  Many of my school photos are taken on or around this tree.

More Birds of the Wetlands

I like walking around the wetlands with my binoculars.  I never miss to go out and do the April/May Bird count for SEEDS with my students. 

In the last few days I got my hands on a camera with a zoom so you'll be presented with some of the images I capture.  

I'll admit, I know how to turn the camera on, zoom in and out, and focus!! -- That's it!  But for now that is all I need, as I am not that much into photography as I am in Nature.

Blue-winged Teal, male and female

Blue-winged Teal-- male

You can actually see the blue wing which is only visible when the bird is in flight!

Canvasback male

Following will be a few pictures of a mallard pair.

Beautiful!

...and a killdeer, 

I found it's nest -- empty still, and wouldn't have known it was there, had it not made such a fuss!