Signs of Spring!

The last 2 1/2-3 weeks have been beautiful. Sunny and warm (warm for this time of year is mid-50s!) and almost all of our record snowfall has melted. There are a few stray piles around town where it was mounded up into giant piles 30' or taller but they are melting quickly.

Here's what I found on a quick walk around my yard yesterday.

My choke-cherry tree (aka "May tree") is budding! And see in the background there isn't any snow!! In about 2 weeks this tree will be covered with clusters of tiny white flowers and then a few days later the wind will blow a little and it will look like it is snowing because all of the tiny petals will be everywhere.

This is some columbine coming up. Can't remember what color the flowers are when it blooms, and that will be a ways off, but it is nice to see it up!

Rhubarb makes an appearance! I love how the leaves start out red and wrinkly. By the time they are gown they are nearly 3' across!

And I have a tulip almost ready to bloom! I have some other things up and about but they are still sort of covered with last year's leaves and I didn't want to disturb them yet. We're not out of the woods with potential for a freeze at night until almost Memorial Day so best to keep them covered for a bit longer.

And there you have it! Spring has sprung in my part of Alaska!