Is It Really Here?

It's 5:28 am.

Do you know where your spring is?

No- don't look out the window. It might not be there and I wouldn't want you to be too discouraged.

Don't look at the weather forecast. After all to meteorologists spring started before the recent blizzards.

Close your eyes, picture daffodils and tulips; that fresh green of young plants, and play the video.

Now go back to sleep until April.

5:29 AM (CDT)- Spring Springs

Just For The Beauty Of It All

Pictures taken in the past two days- 

the ongoing wonder of spring!

What a Difference A (Few) Days Make

May 2, 2013 - Rochester, MN Snow and 33 degrees F

May 2, 2015 - Rochester, MN Sunny and 77 degrees F

Lent Picture A Day (45): Prosper

Can You Feel It?

The time is 5:46 pm, Central time.
Spring has arrived.

Earlier this week we spent some time at Weeks Bay, AL, Reserve looking for signs of spring.

They were everywhere.

Here they are in a video. Keep the faith... spring is on its way.

In Case You're Worried

It is important for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere to be assured that winter is indeed heading away from us, especially after this second winter of records. So I looked back at the sunset picture I took back in February and then the one I took last night. Here they are together:

Notice how far to the north (right) the sun has moved. There is also a strength to the light. Yep. Right on schedule.

Lent Picture A Day (10): Wait

Flag Day 2014

The Pink Snows of Spring

Actually, not what is officially known as "pink snow" or "watermelon snow." This is just the wonder of blossom petals covering the walk and yards in the wonder of spring.

Three From My Walk

It was a beauty of a day last Thursday when I headed out on my lunchtime walk.

The trees were blooming up a storm.

I am never one to pass up the chance to take pictures.

And Let the Birds Sing...

Saw a good share of birds along with the Bluebells at Carley State Park last week. Here's a sampling:

And let's throw in a chipmunk for good measure:

Let the (Blue)Bells Ring

Not to mention all the other flowers at Carley State Park in Southeastern Minnesota. Wonderful day on Sunday to be out and about with the wildflowers and the birds.

Flying Fauna

Last Sunday was a beauty of an "early" spring day in May. Found our first Trout Lily of the year (see bottom.) 

But the fun pictures were of flying fauna, 

or at least fauna that are able to fly. 

Thought I would share some of them.

No- not falling off, flying from an inverted position.

This one just paused and posed.

Flying away from me. Tough to get these guys sometimes.

Silhouette to be found.

Coming in for a landing on the Trout Lily.

Opening My Eyes To See

I have a hunch that all of us are sick and tired of hearing about the lousy weather this past year has given to us. The long, cold winter has certainly been the top of the news more nights than not. This week has been more of the cool and gloomy weather. I have been looking all over for the signs of spring.

Last Saturday I made my second springtime trip to Whitewater State Park, that gem of a natural resource near Elba and St. Charles, east of here. I have made that my state park homestead for its diversity and beauty. My goal, as it is every year, was to find the signs of spring that will keep me moving forward even when the weather won't cooperate.

As usual when I find myself in nature (or God's house, as I have often called it) I had to relearn some lessons.

Also, as usual, I started looking for the BIG picture... the overall scenes, the leaves, etc. Sure, there were signs, but they weren't very obvious. In fact, calling them subtle might be an overstatement.





Some green, but not as much as I expected after two weeks. Disappointment. Will spring ever get here? Will we ever see nice temps and good opportunities to be out?

But as I walked on, I began to realize that there was more going on than I first realized.

I was past the half-way point when I began to notice the miracles that were happening. Spring was exploding, though the explosions were small. But small does not mean insignificant. This is the way it starts every year. One flower at a time.

[Sidenote: Since these pictures were taken we have had rain and more rain. 

The comment was made that these flowers have probably been beaten down 

over the 5 days in a row of bad weather. 

Maybe I'll get the chance to see this weekend sometime.]

But my biggest surprise was later when I was showing the pictures to my wife and, just for the fun of it, I clicked back to the pictures from two weeks earlier and saw these:

Two weeks prior

Two weeks prior

How quickly we forget. Spring IS coming.