February 2017 ending

Looks like March will be coming in like a lamb in my neck of the woods. 



I wouldn't be surprised if it goes out like a lion.



It has cooled off a bit which I like.



Doesn't look like next week will have any extreme temperatures that would put the flowers to bed.



There are only a night or two with the forecast going below freezing.



Out of curiosity I looked at my shots from 2016.



The difference is we had an ice storm mid February in 2016 which was a factor for early buds.



We only had snow one time this winter and that was in January.



I am definitely enjoying the early early spring this year.



The main thing I hope doesn't happen is for the trees to leaf out too soon.



Years when trees have to start developing leaves twice in a year seems to be a factor in later produce such as pecans with my pecan tree. 

February 13 through 19th 2017

I wasn't surprised to see the American Robin (first shot) but the cedar waxwing (2nd shot) was a surprise.



Usually I only see the waxwings in late fall early winter and then they move on.



When I first saw this one I was afraid that it was stunned and or injured because it held one position for a long time.



I was relieved when the waxwing stretched and then flew off.



Spring is continuing to go full force with very mild temperatures.



I guess time will tell if winter will return before true spring.



I found myself looking down a lot on Bill's and my walk today to see what was popping up.



This trail had a lot of evergreen shrubs that popped up amidst the trees.



I heard a lot of birds in the woods but only caught fleeting glimpses.



The photograph above doesn't show the depth of the rough steps in the shot above. It was almost easier to walk beside those steps that lift my foot up high enough for the next one.



I saw a lot of wild ginger in the woods today when Bill and I went on a walk.



I enjoy dirt trails but I came uncomfortably closer to twisting my ankle on a root.



Fortunately I managed to save myself from a bad injury.



The shot above and below were taken back in my neighborhood.

January 29 through February 12, 2017

We're continuing to have wild weather fluctuating as much as 50 degrees within a week.



It's one of those years where the warm spells in winter are starting to give the wrong signals to trees.



The first group of shot from a late January walk at Shelley Lake were taken before the warming signals started doing much.



There is always some green at my neighborhood lake because of the number of evergreens.



I like the way gulls (above) look like little jewels from a distance.



The Shelley Lake walk was perfect weather two weeks ago.



It was nice to get out and enjoy the pleasant day.



There were also great clouds when running errands that weekend.



I love clouds almost more than anything.



The rest of the shots were taken this weekend.



I kind of wish the trees weren't confused and heading to spring so early.



It's not unusual for this to happen in recent years but it tends to cut down on flowers in the spring since we almost certainly have a lot of winter left.



I have stopped worrying about it too much and enjoy the buds even if they get zapped before they flower.



I was glad I caught the trees below on the way to a walk on the part of the NC Mountain to Sea trail that's near where I live.



We saw some back packers today on the trail.



I think it looks like the stump below was carved



It's still definitely winter in the woods.



The forest tends to hold off on seasonal changes too early.