Today was the first day of spring. It hardly seems that today is the first day, as it has felt like spring for more than a month now. We usually get an early spring in California. Spring was also in full force during my trip to Mexico City the last couple weeks, and I am sure that I will see the beginnings of spring over the next two weeks in Seoul.

Here is a picture from a couple weeks ago of my neighbors tree.

The blossoms are now gone and the tree is in full of leaves.

I also saw some nice white blossoms on Sunday on my way home from church services.

With the trees blossoming, you sometimes think that you are driving by snow covered trees. Only it is much warmer and of course those allergies.

A couple weeks ago I drove down I-5 through an area where there are a lot of Almond orchards. There was a sea of white as far as you could see in some areas. This week the green hills were studded with patches of orange California Poppies.

The tree in my back yard is a bit behind.

I am hoping that in two weeks when I return home from my next trip that it will be covered with leaves and that it will also be starting to blossom. I will then know if it will have pink or white blossoms.

On Monday in my post, Old Blue Monday, I shared pictures of my first two roses of the year.

Here is another picture of the bud that is growing directly out of one of the large canes. I have not seen a rose bud grown directly out of the base of a cane like this before, so it is very interesting. The rose is of course beautiful. I am hoping that it will open further by Friday so that I can get a picture of it in full bloom.

I hope that spring is on the way where you live.

Steven