flower bud

Above is the bud of a stargazer lily, just as the bud is the promise of the flower to come, warmer weather is the promise of SPRING! We will be in the 50's next week. Any excuse to get out in the garden and look around at what plants I might put here and others I might put there. I'll be getting more shade plants this year as all my trees are getting bigger and casting broader shadows. I'm greatful for their shade in the heat of summer, but currently very greatful for any warmer weather!

Spring Green

In one of my pots on the patio, there was a green shoot sticking out! and as I walked around the yard today, I found more little patches of things starting to turn green. Listening to a book on tape this afternoon, the character said, " Happiness is the color of spring green! What an appropriate sentiment for today! Hope Spring is coming in your neck of the woods.

ice

There were wonderful cloud patterns in the sunset this night at Bosque del Apache NWR. The ice on the marsh does not have the same relfective qualities as open water would. This is the picture the previous mandala was made from. It was cold when we were down there and it's been cold up here. However, the sheet of ice that extended from our sidewalk to the middle of the street finally melted a good deal yesterday. With another warm day, we are supposed to have one Monday, maybe all of it will melt. Spring has to be waiting in the wings, I found my snowdrop poking it's head above the ground yesterday.

more from Bosque del Apache NWR

Clouds at sunset. There were beautiful sunsets while we were down in New Mexico. The wind stirred up the clouds into interesting patterns. We have had snow in the past couple of days with some days in the 50's thrown in to give one hope that spring is coming! Went around the garden looking for signs of green shoots and did find some pansies trying to come back and a couple other hints of green.

Happy Valentine's

We have a pink flower for Valentine's Day, a hydrangea. A flower from the summer's bounty. It's always fun to make Valentine's, I was cutting out hearts for my grandaughters this morning. One site that is always fun to look at for any holiday is Marilyn Scott -Waters -The Toymaker. http://www.thetoymaker.com/Holidays/Valentines/1Valentines.html She always has wonderful quotes, too, here is one. "The secret of love is that it is a gift, and that it can be made to grow only by giving it away."~ Kent Nerburn

sandhill cranes at moon set

The moon was full January 22nd, this picture was taken early morning Jan 23rd. The full moon was setting as we watched the birds take off to go feed in the fields. It was neat to see the birds fly and the moon set. If you can't tell, I had fun taking pictures down in New Mexico! I keep waiting for things to warm up here in Colorado. It's supposed to be in the 50's today, but so far there is just a big cloud in the way of the sun. In Colorado, the saying goes "give it 10 minutes and the weather will change", I hope so!

goose, geese, cranes

In the shallow pond where the snow geese gather to take off in mass, the sandhill cranes make an almost perfect line across the back of the group. It reminded me of the kids game, duck, duck, goose, instead it is goose, geese, cranes!

A different take on the big blue marble

A straight forward shot of the marsh area at Bosque del Apache becomes a mandala of blue water in a sea of blue sky, with a touch of shore and trees on the edge and a dry plant in the forground creating the center patern. I'm still having fun with circles! and always on the lookout for circular things. Tonight I was watching a program on King Arthur - one of the items shown was the Round Table. Of course it wasn't the real one because Arthurian times were in the 6th century, the table carbon tested as 13th century and the picture of Arthur on the table had the face of Henry VIII! Perhaps he fancied himself as the re-awakened Arthur. The re-writing of history!

snow geese original

The snow geese gathered in a shallow pond prior to takeoff. The darker colored goose is a snow goose called a 'blue morph'.

more snow geese

Snowgeese gathering!