The crocuses or croci (weird spelling but I looked it up) are out in Bowmont park at least. (Frankie heard that they were). I will go out and investigate shortly. So the theme for the next two weeks is “SPRING”. This does not have to be flowers. It can be an artistic image of the 20cm snow pack we are expecting. Or it can be something entirely “spring-like” different. Let your imagination work.
If you would like to revisit the videos I presented at the meeting, here are the links:
The AI rant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbhvmbHMPs4
Outdoor portraits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic-G3TpFteQ&t=7s
These delicate tiny Hepatica spring flowers appeared in my garden just a couple of days before the April giant dump of snow. Hopefully when it all melts they are still there!
taken with my cell phone Samsung S23 f2.4 1 sec iso 32
Here is a record of our April 16 snow event as it is melting on April 18. I liked the footprint pattern intersected by the tree shadow.
Spring is here, ladybugs are out.
Monday was the third time I visited Tom Campbell Hill and the crocuses were finally starting to open up! Lots of honey bees.
ISO 800, 240 mm, f/14, 1/1250
Lovely shot. The yellow stamens really stand out.
I am practicing uploading from my phone. These are early migrant birds called Northern Shovelers. Taken by Elliston pond. They arrive first then the females come. Notice the large beaks. They use them for digging in the water ponds to stir up the mud looking for bugs.
First sign of Spring is when our tulips begin to
pop up thru the leaves! The snow makes for a nice contrast.
I used the ‘warm vivid’ filter on my phone to amp up
the green.
Crocuses with ladybug
160mm f6.7 1/3000 105mm
I also noticed ladybugs out and about for several days now. Wonder if they will make it through the colder weather now that they are out of hibernation. Nice shot. Colour contrast
New owlet in the nest with parent 400mm 1/320 f5.6 ISO 3200
View of downtown and the Bow River from St Patrick’s Island.
Much of the ice is gone.
Aspen flowers in Fish Creek Park.
Amazing shot Fred. I never thought of aspens as having blossoms.
Siberian Squills, Mr. Goggle says they are. First out of the ground every year, after year, after year…….couple decades. Bulbs accidently left behind from a garden transformation, covered with old newspaper and black cloth. Yet there they are every early spring, first out of the ground. Persistence, toughness…tough to ignore easy to admire.
Young tomato, forlornly looking out unto the snow covered window sill outside seemingly paraphrasing a ‘are we there yet?’ knowing full well it’s still a bit aways yet.
Signs of advanced Spring lol
Taken with my phone, using the vivid filter
new growth peeking over the fence from my neighbour’s yard. ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/200
Mayday leaves popping outISO 100, f/5.6, 1/800
This robin seemed quite content to nibble on snow and last year’s fruit on the weeping ornamental crabapple tree in our front yard. Taken through the living room window.
ISO 800, 177 mm, f/9, 1/640 s