The Authentic Appearance of Spring

When I think of signs of Spring, I typically imagine green grass, flowers, bunnies… you know, all that bright, cheery stuff.

However, of the first day of Spring this year, I was reminded that beginning of Spring is very close to the end of Winter, and all it’s drab, overcast-ness.

Still, on that first day of the season, I saw a hint of a change. Even in all that sedge brown and steel gray imagery, there were signs that warmer weather will be here soon.

Here are some photos I took as Spring arrived.

The Magnolia Bush in our front yard promises its brilliant blooms very soon

The Dogwood tree is just budding out

The Robins have returned

A Mourning Dove has built a nest on the window ledge of our old house

American Tree Sparrows remain active here, before their long migration into northern Canada

The spent cat tails at the pond’s edge will soon be used as bedding in some birds’ nests

A Red-bellied Woodpecker, that spent the cold winter here, will find a mate soon

A pair of red squirrels are bundled up in their fluffy tails

There’s still no sign of green grass, but rather the sedge brown, spent stalks of Autumn blanket the fields

I became aware of a Meadowlark when I heard it sing and only captured it as it flew off

A Song Sparrow, first hidden in the branches, flitted to an open branch for a better photo op

The most charming sign that we are on the cusp of Spring; a handsome Blue Bird was singing in the branches to his mate