About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Colours of Spring

After an early dinner tonight, I went for a walk to get some fresh air and exercise. I took a slightly different route and ended up cutting through a housing area to get to the slough where a duck couple were enjoying an evening snack. The male's dark green head contrasted with the tail feathers of deep purple, while the female's body ranged from off-white to a rich brown. I'm not sure if they had a nest around there yet, but they seemed to ignore me even as they waddled up onto land before returning to feast.

As I continued past this spot, I came upon a sweet little garden with a few daffodils that raised their bright yellow faces to the last traces of the day's sunlight. Some blue pansies struggled to survive in the rocky ground where the oak tree greedily sucked the nutrients from the earth. The red berries of the holly bush will not mature for quite a while still.
On the approach to the shopping center, the street was lined with pale pink, almost white, cherry trees in full bloom. The blossoms appeared to be soft and fluffy as they hovered like clouds on the heavily-laden branches.
It was a strange, out-of-body experience to stand beneath the trees and feel as one with the blooms.
On the way home, I passed the house with the giant camelia bush. Tonight it was full of flowers in an array of colours from pale to brilliant and deep pink, but there are still lots of buds waiting to open. This is just one small spot on the bush.
My next-door neighbour has some dark blue grape hyacinths in blossom right now and another neighbour across the street has a magnolia tree that is just starting to blossom. I'm keeping an eye on it so that I can get a photo of it in full bloom. I admire its pale pink to deep purple hues and simply must get a shot this year. I'll post the picture when I get it.

Even though it's still cooler than normal for this time of year, there was the unmistakeable smell of spring in the air tonight. Thank goodness, as we're all so tired of winter.

13 comments:

Casdok said...

I just love cherry trees at this time of year!
Beautiful photos.

geewits said...

We went to D.C. in April of 2002 and just happened to catch all the cherry trees in full bloom. They really are special. Nice pics!

Claire said...

Grape hyacinths, magnolia, pansies and so on these are delights to behold wherever you are. I really like your photos today.

Nessa said...

So many wonderful shots.

Mental P Mama said...

Beautiful photos!

Trubes said...

Your pictures are really good Leslie. You are truly a lady of many talents.

Hope you and 'yours are all wella new baby thriving.

Di.xx

Trubes said...

Oops, acouple of typo's there,Pardon !

Russell said...

Beautiful area you live in! Out here in Rain Country Iowa we are still about a good 2 solid weeks away from seeing many tulips or flowers. It is usually the third week of April that trees begin to leaf out and it begins to really look and feel like spring. So about the week of April 21 I think we will be seeing some flowers again.

That will be nice. I liked your photos a great deal.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful place you have to walk Leslie. We have pussy willows and new buds galore as well as crocus and daffodils but it's still too cold in our neck of the woods for all the beautiful flowers and trees you have shown. Your walk sounds so uplifting. Walking amongst such beauty can only make you feel great. Thank you for sharing.........

Leslie: said...

Thanks for all your lovely comments.

To anon: Thanks for popping by and commenting. Next time, how about signing your name (or even a pseudonym) so I can distinguish you for other anons. You're always welcome here. :D

Ruth W. said...

so that is what Spring is suppose look like!!!

Velvet Ginger said...

these are all lovely!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

You always post lovely nature pics, Leslie.