It really IS spring here!

Tate and I wish to convey our sincere sympathy concerning the never ending Winter that is besetting and bothering so many of our Eastern North American friends, of both human and feline persuasion.

Both cats and humans should by now be happily walking about in a Spring like outside

that is free that from excessive snow and ice.

We thought of you all on Tuesday when the temperature here soared to over 70 degrees.

 I went and took a special walk and attempted to capture springtime as it is here, to share it with all of you.

We are sending you bushels and billows of flowers, digitally, but wish they could be either delivered in person or that you could be magically delivered here to enjoy them yourself in person.

Scroll and enjoy....

(Some passing Canadians left their signature rock message??? 

That would be what I would guess happened here...)

Note the green "blush" on the hillside.

I think long "nosed" daffodils are fun.

The snowdrops are almost done.

The Lenten Roses are blooming here in a manner that fits in nicely with the church calendar.

I don't mind being on my belly or back to get a picture of the Lenten Rose's downward facing face.

I swear the center of the roses glow!

Lenten Roses come in so many lovely colors.

This variety had interesting tube like center elements.

I'd like to figure out a way to get the Lenten Rose photos without my fingers in the shot.

Notice the one next to the one I am holding.

That is their usual blooming posture, looking straight down at the earth.

Love this variety too.

With the flower being about six inches above the ground and needing to be lifted up while I am balancing on my elbows or with my camera nearly on the ground, getting a good focus is pretty tricky.

There was wind too so I was using my Speed setting.

Always a good setting to use when trying to get close up of things outdoors.

The three inch tall Dutch iris offer so much when viewed face to face.

Did I say a "walk" around to see Spring here? 

I meant a crawl along on my belly.

 Crawl,  not walk.

  Don't hunker down with me here. I will do the close up work so you can see the flowers without all the ground work time.

You are welcome.

Spider web!

Spring!!!

Note card worthy shot?

The white mini dutch iris have such a great freckle and yellow blast combo that most folks don't even see.

Peeking at the blooms through the still bare branches of a deciduous bush.

I was starting to get a bit glow-y by the time I got this shot.

(Glow-y as opposed to sweating a bit.)

It was in the low 70s, and all the scrambling up from being prone was proving to be a good work out too.

I think I would make this one a note card too.

Maybe this one could be a note card too?

I was focusing on the flowers when this butterfly just butted in!

The  lavender dots on his aft wing matched the flowers perfectly.

A daffodil duet trumpeting at the sound of the waterfall.

I think the sound of running water is the perfect background music for spring time.

Winding paths beckoned...

(I arrived at the garden 30 minutes before closing time. I didn't meander on the paths; I was either prone or nearly jogging along.)

Getting spring bulbs in a backlit scene is prime for me.

I shot, move a foot over, shoot again, trying to capture the glow that the lowering sun creates in flower petals.

If I had time to tripod I could probably do a better job of getting the glow with a longer exposure but eh, good enough!

Oh look...maybe these are the visitors from Canada that created the rock message.

There is a magpie too in this shot,  right above the geese on the bank.

Trees and bushes are just beginning to bud or leaf out.

The snow on the foothills linger only on the north sides of the hills.

I do appreciate bushes and trees that have colorful bark that add color even when there are no flowers or leaves on them.

The daffodils are quietly planning on swarming this lonely park bench...

The garden has 215,000 daffodils as part of their 360,000 bulb collection that bloom here each spring.

The daffodils are just getting going actually.

One solidary Iceland Poppy bloomed.

So lovely...

Sometimes plants look pretty even without flowers.

Or at least they look interesting.

Check this one out...

And he apparently doesn't appreciate being touched.

"Careful I Bite!!!"

How funny!

Nearby the "biter" was another plant with lovely heart shaped leaves.

There is a some kind of meaning to this juxtaposition I think.

Well, let me tell you something: This scene will be snow covered by Thursday afternoon.

It is OK.

We won't complain about it at all after what the Easterners have gone through snow wise this winter.

AND this spring!

Framed between the flags: Mt. Olympus.

I live at the base of that mountain, and stare up at it lovingly from my back yard.

Back home in the back yard at the foot of  Mt. Olympus:

I have picked wild garden violets and placed them in a press glass toothpick holder in my bathroom.

I don't think we have ever had such richly colored violets before.

Apparently scent was sacrificed for color:

The violets have absolutely no fragrance at all.

Oh well.

Fresh they are and lovely in bloom!

Hoping dreams of Spring will come true for one and all soon.

Until then...I hope you enjoyed seeing the spring that has sprung here in my world.