Virginia Bluebells

Mertensia virginica
Borage family (Boraginaceae)


Each spring the Virginia bluebells wash a certain hill over at my parents' farm in blue. It's become an annual tradition to take the kids' picture on "bluebell hill".


The farm I grew up on is one of the prettiest farms around. Nestled amongst the bluffs of the Big Cedar River it is surrounded by 4 different landscapes: the river directly across the road to the south; corn fields to the west; prairie-like pasture on top of the bluff to the north; and wooded hills to the east.

My brother and I spent summers playing in the river, building tree houses and forts in the woods, following the deer paths, hunting mushrooms, riding our 3-wheeler on the gravel road, and exploring little caves in the bluff. I loved to go up to the pasture and recreate that opening scene from Little House on the Prairie - bounding like Melissa Gilbert in a long dress through the tall grass. Really :) I could write a whole post on my love of all things Laura Ingalls Wilder.

My mom would send me to school with bluebells for my teacher. And, a little later in spring, lilacs - cut ends wrapped in a wet paper towel and surrounded by tinfoil.

More pictures from Sunday...