I guess all of my life, I’ve considered the pussy willow as the very first sign of spring and have always looked forward to it. Last year the first ones I saw was on March 20.
Are they growing in the wild? I have some planted in my yard here in Seattle, which are usually out in January. I’ve seen hummingbirds taking the fluff, for their nests, presumably.
Yes, these are wild. This particular one is near the top of a hill where it gets full sun, so it’s the first to start around here. So far there have only been a very few Robins visiting here: hummers will be much later.
Beautiful shot Terry. I like a lot the depth of focus on this very pretty pastel background. Really nice. I’ll look around here to look for this sign too. (I was not aware of it.) I guess my gramps never passed on that very valuable information. Thank you for sharing it.
Today it was many things; 2 robins the other day, a starling today …oh yeah, and my pups come in muddy. 🙂 Peppers neck is just filthy!! Then I remembered the only thing I disliked about spring, mopping all the time!
I don’t know if it will carry over that far or not, but I hope the water warms up a bit for you. It’s funny, with your climate you are hoping for warm weather, and here when the sun is out I get uncomfortable.
Yep, the season of mud is arriving fast. We have a small seasonal stream that runs through our property when the snow melts and it has been running for the last several days. The river is still low though and will be for two more months.
I bet there are lots of folks who feel that way in your area. I guess you’ve had a pretty hard winter. We’re happy here because of all the snow we’ve had and are still getting in the high country.
You’re way ahead of us! I remember when I was a kid it was a big thing when we were finally allowed to run around outside barefoot: that happened in June.
They probably wouldn’t here yet. It was 23º this morning and there are still patches of snow. When I was a kid I used to think it was funny when my folks wouldn’t let me go barefoot in our yard, but we’d go fishing and I would wade in a stream that still had ice along the edges.
Yup. Pussy willows are a sure sign. I have another rule of thumb: go or look outside every couple of hours. If the weather is different each time, it’s spring. Yesterday we had rain, sun, snow, gropple and hail.
A true taste (or feel) of spring. Lovely.
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Comment by barbara — February 27, 2008 @ 4:54 pm
I guess all of my life, I’ve considered the pussy willow as the very first sign of spring and have always looked forward to it. Last year the first ones I saw was on March 20.
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Comment by montucky — February 27, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
How wonderful! A sure sign that Spring is not far away!
I really look forward to seeing pussy willows, and I can’t wait for them to arrive here.
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Comment by AK_Adventurer — February 27, 2008 @ 6:37 pm
I think the children within us always get excited when they see the first ones in the new year, don’t they?
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Comment by montucky — February 27, 2008 @ 8:17 pm
Are they growing in the wild? I have some planted in my yard here in Seattle, which are usually out in January. I’ve seen hummingbirds taking the fluff, for their nests, presumably.
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Comment by Sue — February 27, 2008 @ 8:18 pm
Yes, these are wild. This particular one is near the top of a hill where it gets full sun, so it’s the first to start around here. So far there have only been a very few Robins visiting here: hummers will be much later.
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Comment by montucky — February 27, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
oh, so this is going to be an early spring? maybe this is a sign it will be warm for my triathlon!!
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Comment by silken — February 27, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
Beautiful shot Terry. I like a lot the depth of focus on this very pretty pastel background. Really nice. I’ll look around here to look for this sign too. (I was not aware of it.) I guess my gramps never passed on that very valuable information. Thank you for sharing it.
Today it was many things; 2 robins the other day, a starling today …oh yeah, and my pups come in muddy. 🙂 Peppers neck is just filthy!! Then I remembered the only thing I disliked about spring, mopping all the time!
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Comment by aullori — February 27, 2008 @ 11:13 pm
Yep…it’s almost Spring! Time to do my laundry, I suppose.
Excellent shot!
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Comment by Pinhole — February 28, 2008 @ 6:20 am
Silken,
I don’t know if it will carry over that far or not, but I hope the water warms up a bit for you. It’s funny, with your climate you are hoping for warm weather, and here when the sun is out I get uncomfortable.
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Comment by montucky — February 28, 2008 @ 8:39 am
Lori,
Yep, the season of mud is arriving fast. We have a small seasonal stream that runs through our property when the snow melts and it has been running for the last several days. The river is still low though and will be for two more months.
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Comment by montucky — February 28, 2008 @ 8:41 am
Pinhole,
Yup, that time of year. Time for the annual bath too, or the optional “spring shower”. (Sorry ’bout that!)
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Comment by montucky — February 28, 2008 @ 11:05 am
Neat shot Terry…I am definitely dying for spring to arrive, although today was the first time I have seen the sun in three weeks 🙂
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Comment by Bernie Kasper — February 28, 2008 @ 9:30 pm
(they already have bathing suits out in the stores here…spring break is just around the corner…)
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Comment by silken — February 28, 2008 @ 9:46 pm
Bernie,
I bet there are lots of folks who feel that way in your area. I guess you’ve had a pretty hard winter. We’re happy here because of all the snow we’ve had and are still getting in the high country.
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Comment by montucky — February 28, 2008 @ 10:27 pm
Silken,
You’re way ahead of us! I remember when I was a kid it was a big thing when we were finally allowed to run around outside barefoot: that happened in June.
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Comment by montucky — February 28, 2008 @ 10:30 pm
OMG What an increcible photo!
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Comment by winterwoman — February 29, 2008 @ 6:13 pm
Pretty little things, aren’t they?
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Comment by montucky — February 29, 2008 @ 8:23 pm
june?! my kids have been barefoot for the past week or so! 🙂
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Comment by silken — March 1, 2008 @ 6:13 pm
Ooooo! Pussy willow’s! Another sign of spring!
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Comment by Janet Wilkins — March 2, 2008 @ 8:15 am
Silken,
They probably wouldn’t here yet. It was 23º this morning and there are still patches of snow. When I was a kid I used to think it was funny when my folks wouldn’t let me go barefoot in our yard, but we’d go fishing and I would wade in a stream that still had ice along the edges.
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Comment by montucky — March 2, 2008 @ 10:03 am
Janet,
Yup. Pussy willows are a sure sign. I have another rule of thumb: go or look outside every couple of hours. If the weather is different each time, it’s spring. Yesterday we had rain, sun, snow, gropple and hail.
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Comment by montucky — March 2, 2008 @ 10:07 am
Just lovely! so soft!
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Comment by winterwoman — March 5, 2008 @ 6:55 pm