Almost Here

April is the cruelest month, breeding

Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring

Dull roots with spring rain.

Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding

A little life with dried tubers.

From The Wasteland

-T. S. Eliot

April is almost here with its fools and its showers. It's funny how spring happens. How one Sunday you're looking out your dining room window and the trees are still bare even though warmth is in the air. And, the next Sunday those same trees are covered with small green leaves, the landscape changing overnight. And, you think, "There you are, Spring, I didn't see you come in but welcome."

Fall enters gradually, the warm colors of the season drifting in slowly one leaf at a time. Spring doesn't play that game. It just...well, it just springs in quickly like an uninvited guest who you're glad showed up because, at the end of the night, you couldn't have imagined the party without her.

Right in My Own Front Yard

The budding of leaves on our oak tree

Our pecan tree cracks an eye, surveys the scene...

Another oak puts on its corsage, dressed for the party.

A magnolia still warm and cozy in its velvety cocoon

Our irreplaceable red tips...

I'm serious. They can't be replaced due to some disease that has banned their sale in our area.

And, an azalea that was near my front yard. It was actually in my neighbor's yard but I snapped a photo of it anyway and almost claimed it for my own.

And, there you are hydrangea clawing your way from the soily depths of winter.

So, there you are small unnamed flower that we thought was dead until you sprang back to life last week. I shall call thee Lazarus.

Finally, my dear wisteria, the first to arrive on the scene. You have put on quite a show, old girl! I'm sorry to see you go so soon, your beauty fleeting. Until next year...