Pasqueflower-Anemone pulsatilla-Easter flower photo

Pasqueflower, commonly known as the prairie crocus, Easter Flower, and meadow anemone is native to meadows and prairies of North America and Asia, also limestone pastures in central and northern Europe.
The name pasqueflower ( Anemone pulsatilla ) comes from its blooming time, around Easter(Passover). This pretty flower is a member of the buttercup family - Ranunculaceae.

The color range of the bell shaped flowers is from dark lavender to almost white with bright yellow stamens in the center of the flower.
The short flower stems are covered with silky hairs and the plant gives an appearance of haze from the distance, the reason pulsatilla is also called prairie smoke.

There are small differences between pasqueflower (pulsatilla) subspecies on diferent continents like
- Pulsatilla vulgaris-European pasqueflower;
- Pulsatilla patens - American pasqueflower-
- Pulsatilla occidentalis - white pasqueflower
but in essence they all are of legendary beauty, a herald of spring and a symbol of old age (because of the silvery flower head).
Different varieties of the Pasque flower are the floral emblems of various territories and states.

Mother nature gifted this pretty flower not just with an amazing color combination but with a powerful auto-protection: it is highly toxic, slowing the heart in humans inducing even coma.
Like all poisons, it has been used as a medicine for centuries in different parts of the world. Plant extracts are used as a sedatives and for treating coughs and also used as an initial ingredient in homeopathic remedies, in a diluted form.

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Primroses taste better than lettuce

I may keep my new primroses bought yesterday, they are kosher and they taste better than green lettuce, Susie cat said so.
Susie is a he but we didn't know that at the very beginning and now it doesn't matter any more. He is a guest at my house, kind of almost permanent, so he feels at home and takes over the place each time, also approving newcomers.

Susie is a very special kitty (they all are); he just felt down from the fourth floor window (14m) the other day. He is crazy about birdwatching and often sits on the outer windowsill.
We assume that the penny pinching grandma have shut the window pushing down the cat unwillingly, in the evening dark, by just the Tv lighting in the room.
After missing the cat some hours, my neighbor recovered him from under a balcony, without even a scratch on him but very scared by the gathering community cats, already surrounding him.
I often used to promise him that I'll wash off his black bullets, if he doesn't stop tiring the house apart. Now, we are all apologizing by him for this incident by loosening the rules and he is a master of taking advantage of our indulgence.

MACRO FLOWERS SATURDAY | CAMERA CRITTERS | TODAY'S FLOWERS

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Purple asters with critters

Purple asters are the last bright colors of autumn.
Little critters are gathering the nectar of these pretty flower for their winter provision.

Macro Flowers Saturday Camera critters Today's flowers

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Winter takes its toll-broken trees-winter scene

Winter takes its toll in many places of the world. The white snow blanket transforms nature in a winter wonderland, though it looks quite different when it comes to shoveling snow in the alley or digging out your car from under the snow.

Bushes are bending to the ground because of the heavy burden.

On the alley several pine trees have given up the fight and cracked under the weight of the snow.

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