Spring has sprung!!! There are little green things popping up everywhere. Sometimes they are kind of hard to find, but they are there in their many forms. I"m always fascinated by the myriad of buds. There are so many different shapes and colors. When they start to open they look like little aliens. These crazy alien buds are on the elderberry in my yard. The red buds are from a maple at the nature center.

I also found a crocus. I love when the crocus appear. They are such hardy little flowers that you may sometimes see them even through the snow. They are determined to bloom no matter what. The tulips are just starting to make an appearance as well. I always look forward to the happy sight of blooming tulips. It's too bad they don't last very long.

A hike at the nature center revealed catkins of all sorts. The willows are flowering - though most people would never recognize these as flowers. It is important to remember that not all flowers have petals. They also don't always come in pastel colors. But, they are always interesting. It's amazing that they come in so many different shapes and sizes. Each one is perfect for a different kind of pollination. Some pollinate by wind, others by various insects. There are as many ways to pollinate a flower as there are flowers themselves.

I did also find a bit of the old. Last years grass stalks make a striking contrast to the new plant life surrounding us. They are very important though. Without them, we could not grow more grass. And, again, there are so many different kinds. Some in the marsh, some in the upland. You may look at it and just see grass, but each can be identified by the shape of the seed head.

It is the perfect time of year to take a hike. The weather is mild, there are no bugs and things change daily. There is new growth all around and animals coming out of hibernation. Listen for the frogs if you happen to be near a wetland area. Frogs sound like many things. Chorus frogs make the sound of a finger dragging over a comb, wood frogs quack like a duck and spring peepers sound like sleigh bells. If you hear something odd and you can't figure out what it could be, it's probably a frog.

Have a good hike!

The dichotomy of spring in Minnesota is astounding. Last Sunday, we had an unexpected snowfall. It was that beautiful, wet spring snow that makes everything look brand new. I was very sorry I did not have my camera as I was driving to church. I love spring snow. It is definitely not the same as winter snow. The Eskimos have no less than 13 words for snow. They should know. All snow is not created equal. And this particular snow was sticking to all of the trees and making everything sparkle. It was great. And then I saw the Linder's Garden Center shop set up in the parking lot of the strip mall near our house! It was all covered in snow, waiting expectantly for the day when people are ready to dig up their yards. Someday soon, the center will be stocked to overflowing with beautiful green things.

For now, we can enjoy tha adventure of spring. You just never know what you're going to get. Every day is different, so you need to be on your toes. Our driveway has filled up with chalk drawings the last couple of days and yesterday we were having fun at the park. Get out and see how many birds you can hear. They are quite active right now. The cardinals are in full voice and the chickadees are making their presence known. I think one pair of cardinals must have won the rights to my yard. I haven't seen any fights lately, so the other 2 pair must have moved onto another bird feeder.

So, take a deep breath. The air is fresh this time of year. You can smell the thawing dirt mixed with the scent of the water that will bring new life to the earth. Enjoy.