The First Snow of the Season

I know some of my readers have an abnormal love

of snow - and you know who you are - so I went out

of my way to get you some snow pictures today,

despite being sick *cough, cough*.

Despite having no snow in the forecast,

that is what we awoke to find falling and on the ground.

It wasn't much snow,

but it was enough to cause several minor car accidents

as people relearn how to drive on snow.

*Hint, think walking on egg shells.

Now drive like that and you'll be fine.

(But you can drive more than 15 miles per hour.)

Okay, so we've had some snow.

Bring on the spring!

On my way home from the allergist's office,

I stopped by Clear Creek Trail.




We have finally been getting some rain,

so the creeks are once again filled with water.



Imagine that.







Remember my last visit here?

Dry-stacked limestone walls are common here.

Happy snow days!

Another Autumn Afternoon Walk

- or Two

My massage therapist's office

is just off the B-Line Trail in Bloomington,

so I try to take a walk on the B-Line

whenever I can after my appointments.

Gotta love the fact that they planted

the trees right under the power lines.

Just like this.

The reworked railway bridge over Third Street.

Elephant ears and other plantings under trees

along the B-Line.

I guess this is a way to water the plants in this prolonged

drought.

I stopped by the WonderLab Garden

of the B-Line Trail.

The reused cork project.

A drinking fountain for everyone

- adults, kids and pets.

The B-Line Trail ends at Second Street.

They are working on extending it farther south.

It is nice to see that this trail is used by so many people.

I see people on their lunch breaks,

mothers with young children in strollers,

people on bikes,

people power-walking,

people jogging

and people just strolling.

Click on the picture to see the humorous message

written below the sign.

A sign promoting a walking group.

After shopping,

and walking over a mile during that activity

(I was wearing a pedometer),

I stopped at the Clear Creek Trail on my way home.

Clear Creek is running low.

Compare that to April 10 of this year when

the spring rains had swelled the creek.

Fall color.

Looking downstream.

Again, looking back to April 10, 2010.

Now, back to the present.

American sycamore tree leaves.

Across the road

a dry-stacked limestone wall lines a field.

Fortunately, soon after I returned home,

the rains came.

Not much, but it was welcome.

Sure Signs that Spring is Here, Part Deux

I have been busy collecting more photographic evidence

that spring truly is here.

The college girls don shorts and flip-flops.

I'm sure the young men appreciate that.

Daffodils bloom downtown.



My hyacinths are blooming.

The Cleveland Select pear trees

burst into bloom.

Close-up of the flowers.

Caterpillars begin moving in the garden.

This is the larva of the Giant Leopard Moth.

Accounts conflict on whether the
bristles can cause a rash if touched.

Redbud trees bloom on the Clear Creek Trail.

Spring rains swell the creeks.

Eastern Redbud.

The lake level is high.

A blue heron takes flight.

The lake is not yet at flood stage.

Boaters are out on the lake.

A gentleman fishes.

The deer missed this tulip in my garden.

I had forgotten that I still had tulips

as the deer eat them before they can bloom.

The dogwoods and fothergilla in bloom.

A bee visits the fothergilla flowers.

Dogwood "in bloom."

Remember,

the "petals" are actually bracts that frame

the cluster of tiny flowers in the center.

Lichen on the trunk of the dogwood.

Lichen is a composite organism,

formed by a symbiotic association

of an algae and a fungus.

Lichen does not hurt the tree

and is a sign of clean air.

My rhododendrons are blooming.

A prostrate azalea peeks out from

beneath the barberry bushes.

This is a lovely shade of pink.

I am thinking the barberries need to go

as they are taking over the space.

Welcome spring.

Welcome flowers of all kinds.