MORE SPRING

Spring keeps popping into the spotlight, then letting Winter have the stage again.

Here are some poppies from the Botanical Gardens:

And this is my neighbor's snowball bush. Don't think I've seen another one this tall!

And here are a pair of the geese that wintered over. If you look really hard, you can see one little gosling between the momma on the left and the tree:

And here you can see another little gosling, leading the way.

There were several more babies but I was afraid to get too close. Momma and Papa eyed me suspiciously!

A couple of days later, we could only see two or three. I'm afraid something is getting them even though the parents seem very protective.

It was down to forty degrees last night and will be again tonight, then will warm up again. I keep getting out my sandals and then have to put them away. Sigh. Maybe soon I can get a pedicure.

SPRING IS DEFINITELY HERE!

How do I know spring has arrived? Because the little leagues are playing ball!

In the park last week, we saw scads of uniformed players convene for the opening ceremonies. Here's one team waiting in line to file onto the field.

And, because Loco's Restaurant is the big sponsor, Loco sent their moose down to help entertain.

So the teams finally filed onto the field. I couldn't get a good shot of all players. Only the ones in the middle. They stretched from first base to third base, though third base was a little crowded:

After flag presentation (by the local high school ROTC) and the national anthem (sung a cappella), the teams and coaches were introduced. And, come to find out, some games had already been played earlier that morning. Several little kids, maybe three feet tall--oh, so cute!--had dirt smudges on their nice white baseball pants.

I don't much like baseball/softball, but I am really glad to see the players out because that's the surest sign spring is here to stay!

GEESE

It has been so springlike here! We are loving the weather.

And the geese are out in force. I don't know how long they plan to stay but they've been here for several months and have made themselves quite at home. Here are some pix of them across the road from their pond. I guess they're nibbling on grass. Or seeds. Or worms?

They are rather pesky critters, and I don't know how they keep from getting run over when they wander the neighborhood. True, our traffic is slow. And one belligerent goose stared down a car this morning until it detoured around him. Guess they've learned the knack of surviving in an urban environment!

SPRING?

Georgia is having a strange February this year. It should be cold and wintry. Maybe even some freezing rain and snow. But no...

Instead, spring is bursting out all over. On campus, here's one of the buildings. Note the flowering trees and the student in shorts:

Still on campus, here's some edging plants:

Even our little neighborhood has its early bloomers. Here are a few pix of what we always called "March Flowers." They're just early daffodils that bloom in March. But this year, they're blooming all over the place now!

I finally gave in and broke out my short pants and sandals. Couldn't help myself. The crazy weather is just too nice!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

As I noted in an earlier blog, the Georgia groundhog says spring is here. In our area, that's certainly true! Azaleas are blooming like crazy.

A few pix:

Then some pix of plants in my back yard:

You know it's spring when the croquet players put on their whites!

Finally, not really a spring picture but one of our car carriers going out just before sunset:

I really love this area. It'll be hard to leave it.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG?

The island is blooming like crazy! It makes it look like spring is here and it isn't even Easter! In the northern part of the state, it's still snowing. I almost feel guilty to be enjoying this weather!

Some photos of azaleas, a rose, and lemon buds on our tiny Meyers Lemon tree.

This last photo is of a wood stork that found its way to the lagoon that flows past our subdivision. I hope he's a sign of spring like the flowers. Although it could be he's been delivering a baby nearby!

WINTER

Winter's still here. All my FaceBook friends up north are posting their snow pictures. In northern Alabama, they had ten inches. In north GA, they had a few inches, too. North Carolina and Tennessee are pretty used to it.

Down here, we had some cool weather. It got down below freezing a night or two. But the signs of spring will not be denied!

On our walk today, this white camellia was blooming defiantly.

Here you can see its companion, the red camellia. They seem to be vying for most optimistic flower!

And I'm totally ready for spring! Glad the sleet and snow and ice didn't get down here!

WELCOME, SPRING!

Yep, getting close to that time of year.

March 20th -- tomorrow! -- is the vernal equinox for 2014. And I'm really glad. This winter's been... Different. I guess that's the word I want. Cold one day, hot the next. Rain one week, drought the next.

I'm looking forward to things getting kind of settled. If weather can ever be called settled.

Anyway, my back yard's looking good, as we ready for Easter and all that:

The shrub on the right is an azalea. The one on the left is a loropetalum. Well, that's what someone who's a better gardener than me says. We'll just take her word for it.

I'm just happy to see things blooming again!

FIRST DAY OF SPRING

It's official! Spring is here! But we've been suspecting it for some time now. Here are some random pix of the flowers and budding trees around the island for all the poor people suffering up north. I hope your snowstorms will soon be over!

WEATHER

We managed to walk again this morning. Not as long as usual but we're gradually getting over the crud.

The weather--on January 15th!--is wonderful. Mid seventies again today. This is why we moved down here!

These photos are of the church across from our complex that we go by when we walk. Notice the poinsettias in the foreground? Still lovely this long after Christmas. And behind them is a blooming hibiscus. It and the azaleas think spring has sprung! Are they gonna be in for a shock when the cold weather swoops down, maybe this weekend. Not looking forward to it.