Today I found a flowering plant that means spring is here at last. It is only 2 degrees, and snow is in the air, so I am not sure. But it is supposed to be.
This purple flower is Daphne mezereum, tysbast in norwegian, daphne or mezereon I believe in english. It is very beautiful and has a nice smell, but it is also very poisonous. And it is rare. And it is special because it blooms before the leaves unfold. Some people have this plant in the garden. I know I place were I use to find two or three flowering wild bushes. This year I found only one. Maybe because somebody have cut down trees there and took these too by accident. Or maybe they are eaten by moose or deer even if it is a toxic plant. Anyway, the plant is quite small, and the nature is still not that colourful. There are more norwegian spring flowers in my web gallery, most from last year.
Bente Haarstad Photography 
Exquisite floral shot and thank you for the story that goes with it.
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You are welcome, Mike.
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First pic is a gem…
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Thanks, Siddhartha.
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It’s good to know you are two degrees into Spring.
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Yes, and tomorrow might be 3 degrees into spring. 😉 But I hope for more..
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My dear Bente, first of all I want to Thank you, for your nice words on my emotional day post… You are so nice and I feel myself so lucky with you all.
When I came to your blog, your last post (this post) (usually) opened slowly… The first photograph appeared into the colours but not clearly and slowly came the clear image… This was amazing moment, as if I lived something magical… The colours into the blur then appeared almost… How beautiful photograph…. Fascinated me… Made me feel so good… Thank you dear Bente, all springs be yours 🙂
Love, nia
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Life is magical, Nia. And you are magical, you write so nicely, always.
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You are part of this magical too dear Bente… Thanks and Love, nia
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Who is this lovely dog?? The flowers are beautiful, and the tree is unique… but the doggy caught my eye!
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This doggy is sometimes on my blog, but today he was only interested in wild pigeons, and to get a glimpse of them.. (a bird hunting dog)
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Ljuvliga bilder som väcker mina nordiska rötter… Jag kommer att vara i Sverige en vecka, fast Norge skulle inte skada…
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Da blir det Sverige sett med franske øyne, du får ha et bra gjensyn med dine nordiske røtter..
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All the pictures are very nice, but the tree trunk is the most unusual. I wonder why it grew like that. Do you know? Ideas?
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A saw these tree trunks on my way home, and I see them often. No Anneli, I don’t know what happened, I wonder too..
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Hi,
Fantastic photos, and such a beautiful flower as well, it still sounds very cold there.
I also love the photo of the dog, and h/she is very alert, a great shot. 🙂
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Pigeons, Mags, wild pigeons in the wood. Thats a great attraction for the dog, since they have just arrived back to this forest.
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Congratulations on finding your tysbast, all the more so given that it’s a rare flower. Now if you could get that thermometer to move from 2° toward the 32° that we have in Texas….
Steve Schwartzman
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com
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Thanks for your good wishes, Steve, but 12 would be something for the time beeing, and then closer to 20 later. It was 32 degrees a couple of days a couple of years ago, and I was in the mountains with a backpack. Hfff, thats tooooooo much!
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The flowers are beautiful. The one tree trunk is very distinctive. I wonder why it grew that way.
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I am not sure, Pat, the tree maybe got wounds when brances was cut (in the wrong season)?
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The first one is very beautiful and lovely. 🙂
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Thanks a lot Cocomino.
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Fabulous flowers, but I love those trees. Almost like faces, side, by side, by side. 🙂
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Like both trees and flowers too, Fabulous.
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Gorgeous! I hate to tell you this, but it’s over 90 degrees here, Bente. We skipped spring and went straight to summer.
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I’m not sure what 90 degrees means exactly, other than it means it is very warm I suppose. No summer here yet, not at all..
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Over 33 Celsius. Too warm for early May. But maybe better than freezing? Not sure. 😉
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Very pretty blossoms! Isn’t it nice to see spring color again!
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Glad you liked it, Montucky. Again means spring turned to summer with you I suppose.
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Your photographs are interesting and the magical touch, which is rarely seen in the everyday world behind you follow your dream for us gives us pleasure.
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Thanks a lot for your comment, Cruzdelzur.
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Beautiful and incredible flower and shot….dear Norway…someday I want to come visit and see the homeland of my family…you would laugh but my Grandma taught me Norwegian words and I do not know how to spell them….one of the words was for talk too much….go figure…I was a very inquisitive grandchild:)
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You need to come and practice your norwegian, Cowgirl!
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Finally, flowers for Bente! Wishing for warmer days soon! Lovely photos, especially the dog (I can’t help it, I just love them).
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Yes, Bluelyon, finally some flowers, and needs some more, sooooon.
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Beautiful purplicious brilliance….
that tree trunk looks like it is growing foot…it has that haunting effect…doesnt leave thoughts easliy
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Thanks for your comment, Soma. Don’t be haunted too much, the forest is usually kind. 😉
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Beautiful little flower, lovely dog & gorgeous tree trunk 🙂
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Thanks a lot, Keira.
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Wow!!! Beautiful !!
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Thanks, Lucja-Maria.
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The flower photos are beautiful.
(But I love the dog photo also).
Hope your get plenty of lovely walks now that Spring is in your part of the world.
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Yes, plenty of lovely walks, Victoria, but it could be greener.
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What a lovely color on the flowers. I love the burls on the tree in the last picture! For those who were asking about the burls: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burl
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Thanks a lot, Barbara, now I know a lot more abour burls, I even learned a new word..
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I forgot to unclick the box under my last comment (Notify me of follow-up comments via email) so I’m putting on this comment in hopes of unclicking it now, so I don’t get a hundred emails.
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I know exactly what you mean, Anneli (who probably doesn’t listen). WP must have changed the settings, before we had to click that box, now we have to remember (at least I) to enclick….
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I see the tree trunk smiling 🙂
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Glad for your nice communication with treetrunk, Russell.
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Nice flowers!
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Thanks, Yvonne.
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Fantastic photos:)))
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Thanks, Marigold.
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I love visiting your world! Interesting to think that where you are, spring is just starting to emerge, and still so cold! We had a lovely day here–the flowers are all early because of a warm spell last month. I’m glad for it to be a little cooler, though I’m not sure I would welcome snow at this point!
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Love the shallow depth of field in the first shot. And what a beautiful dog. Irish setter?
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Yes, irish, Danita.
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I don’t welcome snow now either, but what can I do. 😉
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Hi Bente, many thanks for taking the trouble to read my blog and liking the post “The Politics of Walking”. Your own blog seems fascinating and I will certainly take the time to look at in in depth. Hope you’re enjoying the Spring…
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Thanks a lot for your comment and visit. Hope to read more about pub walks and cold dips..
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delicate lightness… perfect
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Thanks, Fabrizio.
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Wat een mooie hond! Hij ruikt ook het voorjaar!
Groetjes Cristien.
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I (google) translate: “What a beautiful dog! He also smells like spring!
Greetings Cristien.” Thanks, Christien.
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Sorry dear Bente, I am here again but I can’t stop the e-mails from here, so I want to make once again with unchecked… Thanks and Love, nia
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I know what you mean, Nia. Problems hopefully solved soon.
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Fantastic Tree, it could just about start walking…
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Glad you liked the tree, Pointstruprose.
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Lovely flowers. Thanks for stopping by my blog too.
CTB 😀
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Thanks for your comment. My pleasure, Travelbugs.
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🙂
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Our spring starts around January 2 and usually lasts for about two weeks. Then we’re into our long, 8-month summer. lol
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Happy for you with 8 months. We have to to the best of it with 3 months, Russel.
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En Noruega la primavera debe nacer de la propia nieve, es un bonito contraste ver el color de las flores con el fondo blanco de la nieve. Un saludo desde Spain.
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Hi Antonio. I (google) translate: “In Norway the spring must be born of the snow itself is a nice contrast to see the color of the flowers with the white background of snow. Greetings from Spain.” And thanks for your comment.
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wow….is beautiful!
🙂 kiss
vento
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Merci pour tous ces renseignements. Ici,en montagne, il y en a partout. C’est une des premières fleurs à moyenne altitude et elle sent si bon…
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That bulging tree trunk with its pastel colors is quite something.
Steve Schwartzman
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com
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And, Tree-face is happy. I love seeing animated wood! Thank you for visiting my blog. I am so happy I came here to visit you. Your photography is stunning.
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