Lovely wildflowers in purple and yellow grow in fresh light green spring grass. Georgie, the bay Paso Fino mare stands quietly on a picket line in the deep shade of trees covered in thickening spring foliage. The song Georgie Girl by The Seekers has been replaced in my brain by the tune to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by The Beatles with new lyrics, Georgie in the Shade with Wildflowers.

Georgie in the Shade with Wildflowers. Music in my head casts out Lucy for a new version. What if The Beatles had been trail riders?

Thank you!

Ferns grow on rocks on the 032 trail that runs along a ridge on the south side of Millstone Lake in Shawnee National Forest, Illinois. About midway through the 21 mile (33.5 K) ride Gema treated me to yesterday April 21, 2026. The light coming through the trees shouted "look at these delicate beauties brightening up a rugged landscape".

Ferns in the spotlight.

Looks like Roger Dean's Yes album art. Lovely and mysterious.

April 20, 2026 lunch spot on a ridge high above Lusk Creek in Shawnee National Forest, Illinois, US. The sign that labelled it as "Ben's Place" is gone now and the difficult trail leading to it is not well travelled. Spring green trees for as far as the eye can see. And a swing that would go right over the edge of the cliff for someone braver than me.

Peace. Quiet. Solitude.

Soft spring colors of gray, brown, and green. Moss, lichen, and last year's tree leaves line a solid rock path to the top of Crow Knob, a southern Illinois landmark. Yesterday, April 19, 2026 was a glorious day in the forest.

Climbing Crow Knob in Shawnee National Forest. I had a moment when I felt like I was looking at a coral reef on the sea floor. A spectacular display of moss and lichen on solid stone.

Shooting star, American cowslip, roosterheads, or prairie pointers (Primula meadia) a herbaceous perennial native to the central and eastern United States.

Miami mist or scorpionweed (Phacelia purshii) a spring flowering annual forb with blue, lavender, violet, or nearly white flowers in the family Hydrophyllaceae that is native to eastern and central North America.

Huge patch of shooting stars above Owl Bluff in Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois.

All the Shawnee National Forest trails seem bursting with wildflowers this year. Spectacular!

Two more new to me flowers, Shooting Star and Miami Mist, plus a wonderful mix of spring beauties bordering the Shawnee NF trails in abundance this spring. Proof the world holds so much wonder you can never see it all.

Thank you. Moments like this are special.

Georgie, the bay Paso Fino mare, focuses eyes and ears downstream as we cross the rock bottomed creek in shallow water. Deeper water pools beyond with rock formations to the left and new spring growth all around on April trees. Blue sky above. Pleasantly warm. It was an excellent day on the trails.

Trail partner approves the view. Bowed Tree Crossing of Lusk Creek in Shawnee National Forest, southern Illinois. Beautiful day yesterday. Rain today.

Cool shade under a rock overhang on a warm spring day in April. Moss, ferns, and other small plants are beginning to green up under wispy light green and patchy tree foliage. Blue sky hosts fluffy white clouds. What a day to be alive.

Secret Canyon. Spring.

A small double waterfall in the Lusk Creek Wilderness inside Shawnee National Forest, southern Illinois. Moss blankets stones. Water flows freely in April. Tree leaves are just getting started: small and light bright green.

Rocks, water, spring green, peace. What more could you ask for?

Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) in bloom April 14, 2026 in southern Illinois. To see the flowers, you have to get down on the ground and look up. It feels like a canopy of knee high trees designed for fairies.

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are just starting to open their flowers. In another week or so, the Blanchard Crossing area of Lusk Creek in southern Illinois will be carpeted with solid blue.

Violet wood sorrel (Oxalis violacea) adding their delicate joy to the world April 14, 2026.

Spiderwort (genus Tradescantia) are starting their bloom season in the woodlands of southern Illinois. Such a cheery addition to the forest floor still paved with last year's fallen tree leaves. This year's tree leaves are still wispy enough to let in lots of light to showcase these beauties.

April flowers from first ride of the year in Shawnee National Forest yesterday.

Two male turkeys fan their tails, strut, and gobble for the two females who seemed to mostly ignore them, but eventually "danced" with them. Lots of turkeys seen (and heard) in the pastures this spring.

Turkey dance.

Ok, they're "just" weeds (some kind of ragwort), but the color in the morning sun was spectacular: orange centers with brilliant yellow petals. Not big, but a full-on sunflower vibe. Oh, and yellowday might not be a thing, but maybe it should be.

Happy yellowday!

Newly emerged fern fiddleheads look so soft and fuzzy in early April. They will soon open and fill the shaded hillside with green fluttery ferns. After a bit of work, I now have a 1+ mile loop trail all the way around the farm perimeter with a 2.5 mile ride option if adding a loop between two pastures. The ride is maybe 3/4 wooded and shady, with a creek on one side and hills to climb. Life is good for me right now.

Little fiddle friends in the woods.

Large bird nest high in a tree in a wooded area between horse pastures with wooded hillside behind where there is a known bald eagle nest at the top of the hill overlooking a large lake on the neighbor's property.

Thanks for the pics. I'll certainly try to get a better look at who's back there.

Will do.

We've had several seasons of bald eagles nesting on the back of the property and seen adults and juveniles flying over the house. The size of the nest might be a better fit for hawks. From the back deck (maybe 100 yards away) I can't see details, just that the birds are large and dark.

That is interesting about owls. Didn't know that. I'll keep an eye on the area and see if I can ID the builders. It is impressive when you stand right underneath it.

Large bird nest built between east and center pastures. I've seen big birds flying to and from it a couple of times, but from the deck on back of the house it is too far away to tell what they are. Could be red tailed hawks, but we have had a bald eagle nest on the back of the property nearer to the neighbor's lake for several years and seen both adult and juveniles.

Eagle's nest?

Fiddleheads on a wooded hillside trying to be ferns. So very springtime.

Beginnings of ferns in the woodland.

A pretty, purple spring treat, common wild violets (Viola odorata) grow in open fields or under trees in April (zone 6). Small and subtle visual reward for braving a walk on a cool, windy day.

Come gather in a field of violets. Sun warms the earth. Color ensues.

Such shiny leaves and perfectly round buds. A red variety of peony (genus Paeonia) looks ready to burst April 7, 2026. Such a tease. Last year the buds plumped and plumped and didn't bloom until mid-May.

Peonies!

Tightly curled hosta leaves emerge from their winter sleep. Lots to clean up around them. It will happen when it happens as the weather continues to warm up and the days lengthen.

Life.

Red flower of a Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) April 5, 2026 (Easter Sunday). Nice bonus after a good show in November. It likes its big east facing window looking out on bright green spring grass, trees just starting to bud, and blue sky.

Encore appearance of Thanksgiving cactus flower on Easter.

Wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris), aka Yellow rocket, is both edible and medicinal. A eurasian/north African immigrant, it grows in April in southern Indiana alongside bright yellow dandelions (also edible/medicinal and inspiration for Ray Bradbury's excellent book, Dandelion Wine), clover and grass. Nature treats us body and soul.

Spring in yellow and green.

Georgie (bay Paso Fino mare) earned a treat of fresh grass after yesterday's ride. Lady Day (small black cat) watches.

Farm guardian keeps watch on one of her charges.

Thank you. Experiencing wonder everyday keeps me going.

Golden Ragwort (packera aurea) grows in the woods and fields of southern Indiana. Bright yellow flowers brighten up early April and provide pollinating insects a treat before much else is blooming.

Wildwood flowers of April.

Redbud tree in bloom April 1, 2026. The blossoms (not buds) are dark pink (not red), but still they whisper "springtime is here".

Spring essence.