Time to visit my favorite heron, Harry!
I haven't seen him for a bit -- since we last visited the ditch, the leaves have come out and things are looking green and lush.
They should. We've had a ton of rain!
Harry is so muted that he blends into the reeds behind him.
But he was there, fishing...
... and preening...
...and just enjoying the May evening.
And so was I!
Spring really might be landing! It's about time!
I just love these bright pink flowers and ripe buds.
Soon, they'll be a puddle of petals beneath green branches; right now they are simply lovely.
People are getting flowers put out -- nothing too radical, but a few hardy ones.
Even a neighborhood cat seems content to be outside.
At the ditch, it's quiet, at least colorwise. Even the pigeon -- or is it a dove? -- is a soft gray-brown.
He and his mate seem content to look for treats in the dried grasses.
There are dog walkers and contemplative walkers, all taking in the last cloudy evening before ten days of rain are scheduled.
Flowering trees are beginning to burst.
The periwinkle was purple and plentiful...
...while the grape hyacinths looked almost good enough to eat!
And while the photo is poor, the song of this red-winged blackbird was indeed sweet.
Back at home, the narcissus are out...
...and so, too, are the pansies.
Yes, spring does seem to be coming to my world.
The return of the blackbirds.
Weather suitable (if chilled) for long walks in a nature spot.
A pussy willow tree...
...bursting into bloom!
Hydrangeas at the market.
Cheery outdoor displays at local shops.
Happy signs...
...and lovely wreaths!
And this -- a rainbow or a sundog?
(It was early morning, very sunny. This was shot in the car as I was driving -- about three blocks later it began to rain. I think it's a rainbow.)
Kicking and screaming, we will drag spring into Michigan, whether it likes it or not!
...but then, it really wasn't a hardship! With a view like that, who could resist?
So, here you go -- this could be a female finch -- the yellow feathers are my hint.
And I liked this guy!
This fellow should close his mouth while he chews!
The hummingbird shots didn't turn out that well --
These guys really move fast!
I loved the colors of the seed, the sun, the soft brown of the birds' feathers.
And These won't rock your world, but they sure rocked mine!
Vacation. All over for awhile. But like all vacations, it nestles comfortably in the memory and brings smiles for a long time after the bags are unpacked and it's back to work!
Today we welcome spring.
But the bulb gardens in my house have been welcoming it for a few days.
I simply cannot resist tulips, daffodills, hyacinths (even though the latter wreak havoc with allergies!)
And so, for a week or two now, I have been picking up bulb gardens at the market, just to help push the arrival of spring a little more quickly!
Perhaps it is the return of green to yards and fields after a long spell of white.
Perhaps it is the warming temperatures that make being outside more pleasant.
Or it could be the anticipation of shocking colors to come -- red poppies, yellow forsythia, deep lavender and purple lilacs, hot-pink redbuds, the garish array of colors that zinnias and marigolds and snapdragons will soon bring to our gardens or the showy hydrangeas providing a white anchor for all that color.
Till then, I'm content to savor the tulips in my house!
Happy Spring.
