Mad About Magnolias

Today is Pink Saturday!

Join me on a journey through the land of fleeting magnolia blooms!

Flowers on each tree. Mad about magnolias. Pink, perfect blossoms.

Spring finally arrives. Magnolias are in flower. I'm so filled with joy.

Blue sky. Pink blooms. Sun. Springtime days are beautiful. How brief it will be.

One day on the tree. The next, they rest on the ground. Gently falling. Gone.

Shooting photos rocks! A dark, dramatic background. With the help of Picassa.

Please visit Beverly's site to link to more posts filled with pink! I'm sure there are some flowers there, too!

(And by the way, if you enjoy books, stop by my other blog, Chopsticks and String, for a look at "Americans In Paris: Life and Death Under Nazi Occupation." Not really a light, magnolia-sort of book, but excellent.)

Walking the "Ouch" Out

A sunny weekend. A messy garden. If the weeds don't get out before everything grows in, it will be a terrible mess and one that will never get done well.

And the next day -- ouch!

I remember those muscles -- I haven't noticed them in a long while! So, at noon I decided to walk the "ouch" out and see what was in bloom on campus.

Much of the color was already turning to green.

It amazes me that we can wait so very long and then in almost a heartbeat the color is on its way out!

Even the geese seem muted!

But that didn't mean there was abundant color.

The tulip garden behind the old intramural building was in full bloom.

Tulips -- another short-lived flower. I couldn't stop taking pictures to savor in the future -- which the way things are going could be a week or two away!

The campus takes on a different atmosphere when the students are gone -- the banks are quiet, with only a few enjoying the sun.

And they are probably employees on lunch break! But not these folks -- they're working hard to make it beautiful.

I was rather fond of this lovely tree with a carpet of purple flowers. Alas, not enough time to take a break!

Of course, there are dog walkers by the river -- and more than a few flowers there, too.

It seemed as though the only noise was that of construction...

...and the squeals of children on a field trip!

Campus surprise for the day?

A cookie club! Who knew?

My walk isn't over -- but that's for another day!

Back to the Ditch

In a futile attempt to spot Harry the Heron again, I still enjoyed a springtime walk to the ditch. Along the way, spring is really beginning to burst in my little world. Magnolia trees are blooming.

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.

What's This?

What's all this about?

Could it be a river, waking up at the insistent call of those eager for spring?

What's this?

Perhaps is that first early burst of color from the forsythia.

How about this?

Could it be the bill of one of the handsome and colorful ducks along the river?

And he really seems to enjoy strutting his stuff!

What's this?

Oh! It's his lady friend!

Her etiquette on scratching in public could be improved.

And when she's thirsty, let's say she doesn't get into the most ladylike position!

But they seem rather content together, co-existing on a lovely evening.

Spring is indeed coming to my part of the world. These were taken a little over a week ago, on the night of my last French class.

Now, with amazing speed, the trees are beginning to fill in, more spring flowers are budding, soon to burst into color.

It hasn't been a moment too soon.

The devil is in the details!

What's this?

It's one person who is mighty happy to see even just an inkling of spring!

A Follow-up note: Since I wrote that bit above, we're getting a slight bit more blue sky and a wee bit less rain. More bushes, trees and flowers are coming out. Here's one of them! More next time!

If you haven't checked out "Finishing the Hat" by Stephen Sondheim at Chopsticks and String, stop by!