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.

TOUR GUIDE?

A few weeks ago, we saw a tri-colored heron on the pond in our complex and wondered if it had followed us from the island. A couple of days later, Canadian geese flew in and rested on the pond a day or two while the heron was still there. Then everyone left.

"Maybe he was their tour guide," I suggested. "Maybe he came up to take them to their winter home."

We laughed heartily at the idea.

Then, a week or so later, we spotted the heron again. "He's back," I said. "Maybe he's escorting another group south."

Sure enough, the next day more geese flew in, rested up, and flew out. The heron left, too.

"Hmmm," I said, not laughing as much.

Finally, a different group came in. They hung around until...

Sure enough, the tri-color heron flew in, and a day later the pond was empty.

After that, we were sure the heron was in charge of herding travelers down to their winter home.

But now we have a group of geese who came in and settled on our pond before Christmas. Here's part of them.

There's been no sign of the heron and I suspect it's way too cold for him. The geese, however, continue to swim on the pond. I think that without their guide, they're lost.

If the heron doesn't show up and they have to stay here for the winter, I feel sorry for them. We;ve had lows in the thirties, forecast to be in the teens for a day or so. This is a far cry from south Georgia or Florida.

Oh well. They should have been on time like the other geese. Tour guides are busy people and can't afford to wait around for clients who aren't punctual!

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!