Springfield, Illinois. Spring

photographs taken April of 2016

If you will click on any pictures you will be able to view much larger versions of the images.


Tulip bloom on April 1st. Not quite ready to open up, but nearly ready.	Tulip bloom on April 1st (Maureen variety). This will be the second tulip variety to bloom in our yard. Seven red tulips (all were Couleur Cardinal tulips) bloomed on March 30th-31st.	The Hyacinths started opening in the middle of March, and on April 1st most are still looking very good.	One cluster of blossoms on one of our Asian pear trees opened up on March 30th. On April 1st it is still the only cluster of open blossoms on any of our three Asian pear trees.

Looking straight down into a Maureen tulip on April 4th.	The Maureen tulips start out with green and white, but they gradually lose the green color. Here is a Maureen on April 3rd, the first day it really opened up.	On April 3rd the Christmas Marvel tulips are starting to look as if they might open up soon.	By April 4th the first Christmas Marvel tulip has become fully pink, and no longer has green in the blossom.

On April 3rd the Generaal de Wet tulip blooms in the sun.	By April 4th the Generaal de Wet tulips are a little bigger. We planted five in October, and all of them grew nicely in April.	On April 9th we had this view of a Generaal de Wet tulip growing next to an Apricot Beauty tulip.	This lovely yellow tulip grows in our front yard. This is what it looked like on April 9th.

On April 9th one of our raspberry canes is showing its leaves	The Asian pear trees are mostly in leaf by April 9th, with new leaves looking fresh.	We have three varieties of Asian pears growing in our yard, and this one has some red in the leaves when they first come out.	On April 9th Eric was in the backyard training our fruit trees.

On April 9th in our backyard. You can see the Maureens and Generaal de Wet tulips are all looking good.	Daffodils growing in the grounds of Horace Mann company headquarters on April 5th.	I visited the state capitol on April 5th to observe some committee hearings and tell my state senator and representative how I felt about a few bills. It was a lovely day.	By April 25th our new yellow tulips (three Elsie Eloff tulips) were looking lovely.

On April 9th the Asian pear blossoms were looking a little ragged. They bloom well for about two weeks, or a little less.	By April 9th the peach tree blossoms were mostly done, but there were still a couple that looked good.	花枝 On April 10th this branch was in bloom along the Interurban Trail along Lake Springfield.	This is a view looking north on the Interurban Trail a little north of Woodson Road on April 10th.

A view looking up Polecat Creek as it enters Lake Springfield.	A Great Blue Heron flew over me as I paused on the bridge over Lake Springfield on the Interurban Trail.	Lamb’s Ear growing on April 10th along the Interurban Trail.	A mushroom hunter has parked his blue bicycle against a tree in the woods near Polecat Creek (April 10th).

On April 10th the Trillium is growing in the forest near Lake Springfield.	On April 18th when we walked in Washington Park we found the forest floor was covered with spring beauties.	These Dutchman's Breeches were growing near Polecat Creek on April 19th.	Here are some Dutchman's Breeches growing in the Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge on April 17th.

Apricot Beauty (April 12th)	Apricot Beauty blossoms (April 14th)	Apricot Beauty blossoms	Daydream tulip wide open on April 19th.

Generaal de Wet tulip (April 12th)	Generaal de Wet tulip (April 14th)	Generaal de Wet tulip (April 15th)	Generaal de Wet tulip (April 23rd)

Red bellied woodpecker on April 14th	White throated sparrow on April 14th	White throated sparrow	White throated sparrow

One of two young squirrels living in the tree close to our back door on April 14th	The moon rises above maple trees, colored by the many seeds growing ripe before the leaves erupt and burst forth (April 14th)	One tree is starting to grow green leaves, but the other tree is colored red and orange by its seeds	Maple tree seeds backlit by late afternoon sun on April 14th

Flowers near our front door on April 14th	Grape hyacinth on April 14th	White Maureen tulip on April 14th	Purple tulip

White blossoms on tree by PAC on April 14th	UIS campus on April 14th	Redbud tree on UIS campus on April 14th	UIS campus in blossom on April 15th

Couleur Cardinal tulip on April 14th	Camargue tulip on April 15th	Camargue tulip on April 16th	Camargue tulip

Yellow tulip bloom on April 15th	Tulip blooms on April 14th	The first butterfly we saw in our yard this year was this Green-veined white (Pieris).	Bed of pink flowers near Japanese garden on UIS campus on April 15th.

Tulip blooms near our front door on April 15th	Tulip blooms in our front yard on April 17th.	An old brick structure in the hamlet of Salisbury, between Springfield and New Salem, Illinois	The dome of the courthouse in Petersburg (for Menard County). This building was constructed in 1843.

The Asian pear blossoms are starting to fade and fall on April 16th	A tree in bloom along Edwards Street on April 16th	Purple violets along Edwards Street on April 16th	White violets along Edwards Street on April 16th

Jeri and Eric in Havana, Illinois on April 17th	Tulip blooms in the yard of Incredibly Delicious (a bakery in Springfield) on April 16th	Small pink flower in our backyard on April 16th	Lilacs in Havana, Illinois (April 17th)

Two fish in a clear stream on Bellrose Island, just a few meters from where the stream flowed into the Illinois River	The interpretive nature trail in Chatauqua National Wildlife Refuge by park headquarters	Bellrose Island near Havana, Illinois	Bellrose Island on April 17th

A red bellied woodpecker on April 17th, seen from trail on Bellrose Island.	Northern Flickers along the interpretive nature trail in Chatauqua National Wildlife Refuge	Coots swimming in the Illinois River in the Chatauqua National Wildlife Refuge	Chatauqua National Wildlife Refuge view of the Illinois River from the interpretive nature trail near the park headquarters. April 17th.

White-breasted nuthatch on a branch in Bellrose Island near Havana, Illinois (April 17th)	Turtles in Washington Park	Willow tree in Washington Park in Springfield on April 18th	Jupiter appears quite close to the moon on the evening of April 17th.

male cardinal in our backyard on April 14th	A Carolina Wren in our backyard	Mourning Dove in our backyard	White flower in the forest floor in Washington Park on April 18

Eric Hadley-Ives	Virginia Ives	Dogwood in Washington Park	Dogwood blossoms on April 18th

Trail through woods in Washington Park on April 18th	Trail through woods in Washington Park on April 18th	Tree in Washington Park is covered with blossoms on April 18th	The tree in Washington Park on April 23rd, when the blooms are fading

Thomas Rees Carillon in Washington Park	Tulips blooming in Washington Park	Parrot tulips in Washington Park	Tulips in Washington Park, April 18

The Carillon in Washington Park on April 18th	Blossoms on April 18th in Washington Park	Blossoms on April 18th in Washington Park	Bed of pink flowers

Orchid in the conservatory of the Springfield Botanical Garden in Washington Park	Orchid in the conservatory of the Springfield Botanical Garden in Washington Park	Orchid in the conservatory of the Springfield Botanical Garden in Washington Park	Orchid in the conservatory of the Springfield Botanical Garden in Washington Park

Botanical Garden in Washington Park on April 18th.	A redbud tree that is pink, rather than red, in Washington Park on April 18th	Birch trees on April 18th. That is Jeri walking past in the background	In the conservatory of the Springfield Botanical Garden in Washington Park

Philippe de Comines tulips with Apricot Beauties.	Magnolia blossom on the UIS campus; on April 22nd this is one of the last magnolia blossoms.	The pathway from the parking lot up to the PAC building on the UIS campus. On April 20th many blossoms have fallen, but the redbud trees are in the peak of their color.	I like the Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow bush (Brunfelsia pauciflora), which I like very much, especially for the scent. This one was growing in the conservatory at the Springfield botanical garden.

Our backyard on April 20th, with many tulips	Tulips on April 20th	Tulips on April 23rd	Prinses Irene tulips and Daydream tulips on April 23rd

Little Beauty tulips on April 20th	These tulips are Little Beauties	Tulip on April 23rd	Tulips on April 23rd

Our backyard on April 23rd	rain on the Elsie Eloff tulip	Elsie Eloff tulip on April 28th	A maple seed has fallen into this tulip

Mariette tulips on April 23rd	Tulips	Mariette tulip blooms on April 28th	Mariette tulips

Holly Thompson with friends is walking in Washington Park to raise money for a charity	Neighborhood near Washington Park in Springfield (April 23rd)	Oak tree along State Park Road in April 23rd	A calf in the field along Irwin Bridge Road.

Pink dogwood in a neighbor’s yard seen from our backyard.	Pink dogwood blossoms seen from the end of the Lincoln Trail	Redbud blossoms on April 23rd	One of our grape vines is suddenly growing vigorously on April 23rd

The Lincoln Tomb on the day of the Lincoln Pilgrimage	The massive bronze bust of Lincoln made by Gutzon Borglum at Lincoln’s tomb is similar to the Lincoln bust made of marble by Borglum in 1908, which is in the U.S. Capitol.	Lincoln Pilgrimage going down 2nd Street	Prinses Irene tulip on April 25th

Blue Parrot Tulip	Blue Parrot Tulip	Blue Parrot Tulip (April 28th)	Columbine blossom.

The Holi celebration (several weeks late) during Asian Celebration Week at the UIS campus.	Students (and a handful of staff and one faculty member) put color on each other during the Holi party.	The Holi event gave students an opportunity to take interesting photographs.	Lightening in the night sky seen from the street in front of our home in Springfield.

Kingsblood tulip bloom. April 27th. Philippe de Comines tulips are near the Kingsblood.	Delicate little flowers in our backyard.	Azalea bush is in bloom on April 30th, and it looks fresh in the rain.	The first iris to bloom is fully flowering on April 30th, but it is drenched in rain.

Photographs

The Divine Springtime

By Eric Hadley-Ives

Book Preview