Fall-looking Leaves in Spring

This bush just outside my door is very weird. It looks like this should be a left-over photo from Fall. It's not. It's Spring, it's the middle of april and this plant has yellow, red and orange leaves all over it. Like I said, weird.

Baby Leaves!

We're nearly there - these could technically be classified as leaves. Very little, itty-bitty, baby leaves; but leaves all the same. This is it, folks, it's nearly spring for real now.

Tulips

Man, tulips have a lot going for them, don't they? I mean seriously, is there a more universally liked flower? I mean, even the women I know who don't like roses (I personal don't especially like red roses, because they've become such a standard that they no longer require thought) like tulips. Plus they're a sign of spring, so everyone is always happy to see them. And, even before they bloom they have really cool leaves.

Soon to be Leaves

Another show of some tree branches that have started to bud, but have not actually burst into leafy goodness just yet.

I like how almost pre-historic these buds look - like they have a hard outer shell they have to break through first.

Old Hydrangea

One of the things I really like about Hydrangeas (and it's a very long list) is that the blooms kind of hold even after they die. These were in my grandparent's garden this spring, clearly left over from from last year. Yes, they're dead, but they still look so cool. Not nearly as amazing as they do when they're in actual full bloom, but pretty cool all the same.

Weird-ass Buds

I don't know what this tree is going to be when these leaves actually pop and become leaves. For now it looks like something out of an alien movie or something. The pod people have arrives and they're leaving these weird-ass hairy-looking buds everywhere.

Little Tine Leaves

In two or three weeks these exact same leaves are going to make my life a living hell with their pollen and crap. My face will explode and it will be bad. In the mean time - look at those adorable little leaves! Aren't they cute?

I Can't Think of Another Sound for Spring

Another cute little plant-to-be. I don't know what kind of plant this is going to grow up to be, but it sure looks cool now.

Boing

Isn't this just a happy little sprout? Something about it just makes me happy.

Lady Bug

My grandpa would probably be upset with me for this. He HATES these bugs and I not only took this picture in his garden, I also didn't kill the bug when I was done. I agree with him, they're obnoxious as hell, but it's so cute! Lookit him! He's adorable.

New Life

One of the things I really love about spring is finding all of these green things poking up out of nowhere.

Luftballoons

There are only two of them and they aren't red. But all the same. I really like hot air balloons - seeing them from the ground anyway; I've never been in one. They seem very peaceful. From the ground. Not a fan of heights, me.

Growth

I think this is going to be an Iris some day. I'm not 100% sure of that. But I know that last year there were a bunch of iris growing where I took this, and I have a vague memory of this being what Iris look like when they first start out, but I might be making that up. Honestly to me it actually looks like some crazy cross between Amaryllis and ginger. But I'm pretty well convinced that's not what it is. Regardless of what it is, or what it's going to be it still looks pretty cool now.

Itchy Eyes! Itchy Ears! Itchy Throat! Yey March!

Right around January 15th or so I started to get a cold. And boy howdy was it a persistent little bugger. I could feel it coming on for at least a couple weeks, then I was actually sick for a couple weeks and then I was in that phase of "is it gone? am I still sick? am I good? I can't tell yet..." feeling. Awesome. About two days after all that was done, the unmistakable feeling of allergies starting in. Fan-freakin-tastic.

This is what's doing it to me, and if I didn't love Spring so much I'd be really resentful. (As it stands I'm only a little bit resentful.) I love moss, I think it's super cool. I love how soft and velvety it looks. This is a patch of moss outside our back door. It's not totally grown in yet, it could be more carpet-like; but it still looks pretty cool.

SPRING!

I won't go so far as to say Spring has sprung here in Minnesota. (I've lived here long enough to feel like there's still at least one more snowstorm left - just to fuck with us.) But it has been feeling pretty Spring-like lately. We've had some very lovely, sunny days breaking 60 degrees. We've also had some rather gloomy, rainy days and a full week of some of the densest fog I've ever seen. (Not fun to drive in, but looks so cool.) Furthermore my allergies have started acting up so I know it's starting to be Spring. Or more to the point - things are starting to grow.

I have no idea what this little sprout is going to turn into in a few weeks, but it sure looks cheerful right now!