Signs of Spring

Spring like weather teases us right now. We enjoy the warmer temps, but a quick glance around and we still see the barren landscape of winter. This is when it helps to put on our 'small eyes'. If you look close enough, you will begin to see the awakening.  
Today, I was pleased to discover that a pussy willow that I hadn't gotten around to planting last Fall has survived the Winter in its' pot. Their cracked buds remind me of old maid popcorn kernels. I also found that the Forsythia buds are getting close to opening as well. 
Even insects are starting to make themselves known. A small cloud of gnats had hatched and were flying close to the moist ground.
Later in the day, my husband and I went over to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, and took a little walk around the Children's Garden. Absolutely delightful! The sweet aroma of Witch Hazel wafted through the air. There is a wonderful boardwalk that takes you high up into the trees. It's surrounded by stately green pines that were so inviting after the dull gray brown of Winter. Even the parking lot was lined with Junipers heavily laden with dusty blue berries. 
However, one of the things that I do like about this time without leaves, is that you can pay more attention to the structure of a tree, and some really interesting types of bark.



Pussy Willow bud



Forsythia buds



Pachysandra buds



Witch Hazel blossoms



Golden Ghost Japanese Red Pine



Children's Garden



Basket filled with nature to be arranged in picture frames.



Chinese Juniper



Peking Lilac 'China Snow' has beautiful peeling bark.



Smooth gray bark of a Beech tree with its' weeping branches.