Honeysuckle and Wild Roses

Yesterday was a glorious day in Vicksburg, and a perfect day to take a drive in the country. The wildflowers are at their peak right now, and there were some in particular I was hoping to capture with my camera. I wasn't disappointed.

I don't know about you, but I love honeysuckle. It's delicate blooms are so elegant and, of course, it smells absolutely heavenly (you can click on the pictures to enlarge them, if you'd like).

I know honeysuckle can be invasive when it's growing in your yard, but there's just nothing prettier than its flower-covered tangle of vines growing wild on fences and fence posts along a country road.

I took the next three pictures last April on another "roadside photo shoot."

Even though it's just the first of May, our days have already been quite warm. Yesterday, I was trying to find some honeysuckle in a shady spot when I received a little lagniappe in the form of some gorgeous wild roses growing on the side of the road.

I slammed on my brakes and backed up (this was a deserted country road, thank goodness), and discovered that there was also honeysuckle growing amongst the roses. Honeysuckle, wild roses, and shade -- it just doesn't get much better than that, folks!

The roses were pretty from a distance, but even more beautiful up close.

In the days to come, when I look at these pictures, I will recall the day I took them and remember that magical place in the shade, heavy with the scents of honeysuckle and wild roses mingling in the air around me. I'm so thankful that I was able to capture that memory forever in my pictures.

In the next few days, I will be sharing more pictures from my drive in the country, and hope you will join me.