Dreaming of an Imminent Spring

A week ago, I was shivering in single-digit temperatures, but the temperature underwent a sixty degree (Fahrenheit) jump sometime in the morning hours of last Monday, and have been seasonally warm since then. This weekend, I saw my first American robins (Turdus migratorius) of the year, and heard the first red winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) of the year. With the return of these cheer-inducing avian charmers, I can be assured that Spring is nigh.

On the dendrological front, the first local trees to regrow their foliage in the Spring are the willows (genus Salix), which start to sprout golden shoots:

The site that forms my typical workplace is home to a small tributary of the mighty Hudson River, and the bank of this small river is home to a bunch of willows:

Some of the local willow trees are contorted into fantastic shapes:

Wandering along the meandering bank of this small watercourse on an overcast afternoon, I was struck by how druidical the vibe was... I was expecting these guys to come by:





I might not live in the Land of Dreams, but sometimes it's a dream job.