Happy Easter

The air is vivid with the promise of Spring.

What better way to chase away the last of winter

than with this Rice Paper (Idea leucone) butterfly.

Our city, Montreal, celebrates spring with a wonderful exhibition of butterflies from around the world, flying free in the Botanical greenhouse.

Snow Ducks

Tired of paddling in the frigid pond

the ducks are on the move.

Spring has tickled the earth beneath the snow

and they forage for the vegetation that begins to grow.

They're funny

these forest ducks,

wiggling their way

around branch and tree,

maneuvering over root and snag.

With bright orange snowshoes

they waddle along

With an occasional stumble and flap

when one foot sinks too deep.

They look at home,

snuggled

in their warm brown

feathers.

Of course they'd like the snow.

It's nothing more than frozen water :)

Patience

Ah snow!

Lit by the sun

against the bright blue sky,
You're dazzling!

I wait

patient as a dove

fluffed and ruffled

quiet and still.

I know you won't remain much longer.

A few days of warm temperatures

and you'll be

a beautiful memory.

Hippety-Hop-Brrrrr!

What do you do when the road you like to use is covered in snow?

You plow through at super-speed!

You swerve around and over hurdles!

You tunnel under snow mountains!

And shake it all off first chance you get.  Brrrrr!

First Day of Spring

First day of what?!?

All the birds showed up for the first day of Spring.

Unfortunately so did 30 cm of new snow!

Miss Cardinal did not appreciate

how the snow was messing with her well-styled hair.

I heard the boisterous and distinctive calls

of this cloud of Red-Winged Blackbirds from inside my house.

I imagine they are reprimanding spring for her delay.

Like this dove,

all we can do is patiently wait

while winter gives us one last hurrah.

The Rings of Time

Trees are the ultimate story tellers.

Hidden between their rings of time are tales of: injury, drought, hardship, growth, peace, insect invasions and forest fires.

Dendrochronology, the study and interpretation of tree rings can tell us everything we need to know about a tree's history.

When I came across this fallen tree I couldn't help stopping to count its rings.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered it is about the same age as I am;

Middle age for me, but quite young for a tree.

Its bark,

A roadmap of life,

 Filled with light and dark, highs and lows,

Reflects a beauty that comes with time and age.

The tree's stump tells us the final part of this story.

You can see why it had to be cut down...

It remains in the ground,

a marker for a tree that held this spot for fifty-some years.

Looking Up

Today has me looking up!

Nothing to see down below but

SNOW,

SLUSH,

GREYNESS

and

YUCK!

This time of year tests my patience.

Each day I scour the spring landscape

in search of

GREEN,

COLOURFUL,

LAND!

While I wait for the trees

to dress themselves in brand new leaves,

I'll keep looking up.

Soft Signs of Spring

Close your eyes

Do not peek

And I'll rub Spring

Across your cheek.

Fluffy as a kitten

Warm as fur

The only thing missing

Is the tell-tale purr.

White tufted cotton

Beneath a crimson hat

Clouds of pussy willows

 Imagine that!

Inspired by the poem: Pussy Willows

By: Aileen Fisher

Sweet Mystery

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.

It is the source of all true art and science.

He to whom this emotion is a stranger,

Who can no longer pause to wonder

And stand rapt in

Awe,

Is as good as dead:

His eyes are closed."

Quote from: Albert Einstein

Ice Diamonds

Although it doesn't seem possible, we received another huge snowfall yesterday.

Earlier, before the storm hit, the sun came out and with it

I felt the gentle touch of spring.

Here are my favourite clematis seed-heads wearing ice diamonds,

whose beauty is both rare and ephemeral.

"They say diamonds are forever,

Yes forever and a day,

But if diamonds are forever,

Then they must be here to stay.

I think love will live forever,

Way beyond forever's day,

It's not diamonds as eternal,

No matter what they say.

Diamonds are a fleeting fancy,

As soon they will be gone,

But if love is your true diamond,

It will ever linger on.

So if you are seeking diamonds,

And I know you always will,

Then just find the kind of diamonds,

That your life,

with love,

will fill.

"Diamonds are Forever"

By: W. Diane Van Zwol