They’ve Got the Feeling: 2011
They've got the feeling.
The pussy willow is blooming now—for real. Those hard-shell buds have been waiting, ready to burst, since the January thaw when several of them actually did burst.
I’ve seen snow on the pussy willow, but it never amounts to much. I’ve been watching this branch of the pussy willow all winter outside the bathroom window, and the fat, fuzzy catkins, the blue sky, the sunshine, the mild breeze, tell me spring is here.
They’ve Got the Feeling
They've got the feeling.
The pussy willow is blooming now—for real. Those hard-shell buds have been waiting, ready to burst, since the January thaw when several of them actually did burst.
I’ve seen snow on the pussy willow, but it never amounts to much. I’ve been watching this branch of the pussy willow all winter outside the bathroom window, and the fat, fuzzy catkins, the blue sky, the sunshine, the mild breeze, tell me spring is here.
The Forsythia is Ready, Too
Forsythia buds are ready to greet the new year.
Forsythia is the first thing to bloom in my yard, before even the crocuses some years. Those buds are ready to burst open, and a few tender green leaves are already unfurling.
I apologize for the blurry end of the branch—the slight breezes as the new snowfall was on its way made everything quiver slightly, but I didn’t want to hold it still
“I’m ready for spring.”
This male goldfinch is showing his colors.
So says the male goldfinch who is already beginning to molt his olive drab feathers for a lemon yellow neck ruff.
I’ve seen many such signs of spring in a walk around the yard over the weekend, cleaning up some of the downed branches and up-righting some shrubs and small trees. The forsythia, lilac and maple buds are full to bursting and even showing some green. I’m working on a little photo essay.
I photograph these birds through my windows, which can be tricky and doesn’t always produce the best results—especially after several weeks of snow. I clean my windows regularly inside and out to make sure the glass is clean, but I haven’t been able to get to the outside for at least two weeks. Looks like that’s in store for this weekend.
