All of a sudden, it’s spring in Disappointment Valley. How do we know?
The greasewood (above) is budding. We always look forward to this (at least partly) because it provides an early source of protein for the horses coming out of winter.
Grass is rising (sparse, but it’s there).
Cottonwood, silver poplar and apricot (!) leaves (in my neck of the not-so-wooded woods) are budding.
Robins are hopping.
Meadowlarks (how I love them!) are trilling my favorite song(s).
Butterflies are fluttering by.
Disappointment and Dawson creeks are running high and fast (Spring Creek *is* actually trickling), and places that AREN’T even creeks are channeling higher country snowmelt into arroyos rushing muddily to Disappointment Creek.
Mustangs are shedding.
Humans are wearing – *gasp* – short sleeves and baring winter-white skin to sunshine – which means it’s sunscreen season again.
I can ride my bike outside (instead of inside on the stationary trainer), and as a result, I think I have the first slight sunburn of the season.
High temps have gone from 40s to 50s to 60s to 70s (near 80!) in about as many days. (And by Friday, we’ll have a 30-ish-degree temperature drop.)
I initially thought this was phlox, but I think I’ve identified it more correctly as filaree or storksbill/cranesbill. (Remember the post about April’s full “pink” moon? Filaree is part of the geranium family, not phlox, but it IS very pink!)
What signs of spring are YOU seeing where you live?
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
Spring in Durango is evident by the sudden silty brown color of the Animas River as the mountain snow pack begins it’s trip down stream. There is actual green grass and the birds are everywhere ! Most everyone has ditched their skis for bikes and boats. Yesterday I spotted a Lesser Yellowleg feeding in a shallow pond on it’s migration north to.Canada. Happy Spring
That’s the transition for sure! :)The Animas running high, and full bike and boat racks replacing ski racks! That bird is gorgeous!
How beautiful, TJ! Budding things and first flowers and green stuff. The “spring” in Spring Creek Basin dawns with great fanfare. And even though there will be hiccups – ” 30-ish degree temperature drop(s),” etc., still, it appears we’re on the downside for winter-like weather!
Ha – yes. 🙂 It IS still Colorado after all! So near 80 degrees today that it might as well have been … down to 50s by Friday!? Still, we’ll take all these signs of spring!
Way back here in NY – we have had more than a week of no rain – swampy & springs dryer – daffodils blooming – my lambs ears came back – pansies have been nice & green AND a blossom even with snow on it a while ago! Love them.
We are due for rain & likely will get more than we want but thats how it is! Glad the horses have some green AND water.
Your flowers sound beautiful. 🙂 I’m getting ready for more rain, even though the creeks are running wild. We need rain on the greening green, not just in the arroyos, but we’re definitely happy to see the green and water!
Here in southern MI, it is 80 right now at noon! I got out the shorts! Love spring!
Wow! You guys are springing, too. Nearly 80 here today … just crazy!
Wow! So much good news😀👍🌷
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Yes, indeed. 🙂
Meadowlarks, goslings, bits of green, a couple of butterflies, a ladybug, calves in the pastures, heavy wool socks washed and put away, my dog Bear sleeping in the “this is the last place there was snow, Martha,” spot in the yard.
I love your list of spring signs! Calves – yes. 🙂 And foals!
No foals here yet — But maybe??? I can’t wait to see the mustangs’ when they arrive.
🙂
Springing Aztec. Apricot is suddenly in bloom, but the wind today may blow them away!l Lilacac has leaves, grass is greening!
Ah! Windy here, too, and it turned “stormy”! My favorite colors have always been grey and green (and associated purple) – storm colors! 🙂