Wednesday, June 20, 2012

buttercups

The perfect June flower--bright, simple, and outward looking, buttercups are blooming in abundance on our Catskills property.

  Creeping over the stone wall.

 Stealing the limelight from forget-me-nots.

 Edging into the brook.

Did you play the buttercup game as a child? If a buttercup held under your chin makes your skin glow yellow, you like butter. (Does anyone not like butter?)

This is my favorite time of year. I might say that again in October, but remind me about the wildflowers.

Jen

p.s. I want to make one of these little libraries.




21 comments:

  1. Buttercups are so gentle & sweet. This is not my favorite time of year (October is), but to those who love it--happy Solstice!

    LOVE the little library--what a fantastic idea!

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    1. I guess I can have more than one favorite time of year. Those brisk autumn days are wonderful. But no flowers...

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  2. That free library is too cool - such a great idea. My favorite time of year was last month. It's getting too too hot already here. Pretty little buttercups.

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    1. Heat wave here today! I adore the free library idea--and love that there's a whole network of them.

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  3. Nothing like the wild flowers in June! ( didn't know they are called buttercups...)
    These small free libraries is the cutest idea I have seen in a long time. I want one too!

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    1. Isn't it a charming name? And fans of the Princess Bride have another association with it.

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  4. I love the buttercups, and have transplanted them among the lavender. And the little free library is an utterly charming idea.

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    1. I love the idea of buttercups and lavender. Yellow and purple. Round and sunny among tall and stately. Perfect!

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  5. Hello Jen:
    Yes, the little free library gets our vote, most definitely. In Budapest there is a particular tram stop [which we have to seek out for ourselves one day] where books can be swapped or borrowed for free. We think that the idea is great and, of course, one need never be short of reading material on one's tram journey!

    The Buttercup surely comes into the category of 'beauty' or 'beast' in the garden. Should it be admired as a beautiful plant or despised as a weed. Perhaps when it is regarded as a wildflower all is well!!

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    1. I am delighted to hear about the tram stop book swap. We have a free book exchange in my town in Massachusetts, and I think it's my favorite thing about the town. I do live the idea of the tiny libraries, and my son pointed out how much children would enjoy it. (The are two very small girls across the street from us.)

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  6. Hi Jen, the buttercup is such a beautiful little flower isnt it? We used to play the 'butter'game too when we were younger!

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    1. It is, and I didn't realize that it is invasive until the Hattatts comment, but it is free to flourish in the country. I remember picking Queen Anne's Lace when I was a child and being so let down when my mother told me it was a weed.

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  7. Dearest Jen,

    Oh, yes - I used to play the buttercup game with my grandmother. I was always so happy to get the confirmation that I indeed loved butter: still do. These days I play the same game with my daughter. There are millions of buttercups around our house, we call them 'smørblomst' (butterflower). It made me so happy to learn that the butter test is a widespread game.

    The library is a beautifu idea. I would love to make one myself. I still miss the book busses...

    x
    Lilli

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    1. I love the name butterflower, and the look of your word for it! How sweet that the game is being passed down through the generations. Little things like that can make powerful memories.

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  8. Lovely! Buttercups are treasures. Enjoy!

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  9. Here buttercups grow as well. They are lovely indeed and so simple! To look like butter would be a good thing - I should try it in the right moment! I like the idea of the little libraries. A wonderful idea and if I could I would copy it as well. We are living in the town center and here it would not work. I hope your start into summer 2012 is wonderful! Christa

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  10. I do love buttercups or (insert flower here), they make me smile. I guess you're not getting the heat yet, I think we hit 100 today, yuck. Love that little library... not as much as the buttercups though.

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  11. Buttercups, such pretty flowers. They bloom in California, I suppose because I found it on a sheet which I bought there.

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  12. I LOVE the little free library! We participate in a similar idea. There is a place near us that has a little book self and you can take books and leave books. I have enjoyed it so much. Your pictures are so beautiful and cheery!

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  13. well, I actually don't like butter. don't really dislike it either, but could live without it. I love buttercups though. they seem to not be as common anymore as what I remember from growing up....

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