Sweet Anticipation

On a gray morning, rain drips off and on from half-hearted clouds.  

Outside, dogwood bracts unfold to reveal tiny emerald treasures that will soon open, attracting a menagerie of pollinators.

The first blush of deep pink has appeared on red bud trees, and it looks, for the first time in years, 

like they might bloom simultaneously with the dogwoods.  

Our icy winter compressed the first side of spring, and the results could be glorious.

Male goldfinches have discarded their drab winter garb and donned bright yellow down jackets for the season...

and male bluebirds have pulled on their brightest little t-shirts.

All of that said, most of the trees are still bare except for a few oaks like the one near the house, 

which stubbornly hoards last year's dead leaves.  

They'll discard their clutter any day now, and I'll finally be able to clean out the flower bed for good.

I can't remember when we've waited this long to see toothwart and rue anemone, 

but now that they've appeared, other wildflowers are following in swift succession.  

A brief look around yesterday revealed Johnny-jump-ups, 

bluets, spring beauties, pussy toes, and dandelions.  

Verbena covers the lake shores, and henbit, the poor gardener's ground cover, decorates the town.

Service berry trees are in full flower...

 ...and wild plum blossoms exude their intoxicating fragrance.

Now the rain has stopped, and cloud curtains, blown in the breeze, part to reveal the sun. 

The sweet anticipation seems inbred

Of clover underfoot, the hum of bees

Of new leaves growing overhead

And poppies swaying in the breeze

 But in the meantime...

Life is pretty good.

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

Thanks to Kim Klassen, who provides fabulous free textures.
The one I used today is Just a Touch.

Spring Back

If the change of the season is progress, 

Sunday's cold could be viewed as only a minor setback...

...but when the snow was falling fast and thick, 

it looked like full-blown winter.

Even the creatures seemed to think so, 

flying through the flakes and posing for Christmas cards.

After a year underground, this iris emerged to a balmy day Saturday,

but Sunday must have been a surprise.

Who would have guessed that Spring was only days away?

The creek is still flowing, but by yesterday, most of the snow was gone.

Spring peepers are singing as if nothing had happened,

and it feels like Spring is coming after all.




When will spring put on its splendor?
When will yellow blossoms nod?
Atop their stalks, so green and slender
Their frilly faces bow to God.

The winter’s drab; the birds are still.
When will spring put on its splendor
To raise the silent whip-poor-will
And paint the tulips, bright and tender?

When will winter days surrender
To brighter, longer days of spring?
When will spring put on its splendor
And cause the sweet-voiced wrens to sing?

Of the calendar’s four seasons
Vibrant spring has no contender 
For the wait, it has its reasons
When will spring put on its splendor?

Linking with Saturday's Critters

As Sure as Spring

There's music in the woods at night; the coyotes are singing their spring love songs.  If you get close enough, it can raise the hair on the back of your neck, and around here, it's a good harbinger of spring.  Last week, the ground was in a deep freeze, and with the exception of a few snowdrop blossoms and the music of the coyotes, it seemed there wasn't a single sign of spring's approach in these Ozark hills.

Until Thursday.  The first red-winged blackbird made his appearance...

 ...and in spite of the chill,
kept up his cheery chipping as if he was quite happy to be back.  

Friday we spotted a Phoebe, returned from its winter in the south,
wagging its tail and singing its name.

A spring peeper (aka, tree frog) let out a timid peep from the pond. 

Yesterday, for the first time this season, 

we watched wild turkey gobblers displaying for the hens.

One old gobbler wanted to be sure the young ones, with their short, stubby beards, 

knew who was boss.

Even when it seems like a long wait, it's good to know there are some things you can always count on-- that as long as the earth endures, spring will come again, that somewhere the coyotes will sing, that the sun will come up in the morning, and that God's mercy will be available for a new day.

Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him.  

As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; 

he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rain that waters the earth.

Hosea 6:3

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

The Lord is good to those who wait for him,

to the soul who seeks him.

Lamentations 3:22, 23, 25



Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday